xxxn LETTERS TO MARCO 215 



which noise I imagine was analogous to the 

 grating sound a hen makes when she con- 

 templates laying an egg. 



I was spending a few days, a short time 

 ago, at a friend's house near Newbury, and 

 heard a very well authenticated story about 

 some owls. A gentleman who had a number 

 of pigeons in a regular cote, having noticed a 

 great falling off in the number of the birds, 

 made search into the interior, and there dis- 

 covered, at home with the pigeons, a pair of 

 old owls, a pair of young owls, and a pair of 

 nestling owls ; these latter had their suppers 

 laid out before them in the most orderly 

 manner, consisting of a pair of half-fledged 

 squabs. I am sorry to have to relate this 

 story, as I am so fond of owls, having be- 

 lieved hitherto that they fed chiefly on mice 

 and beetles ; but no doubt these birds having 

 found the dove-cot a convenient roosting - 

 place, innocently took up their abode in it, 

 giving way gradually to the temptation as 

 their families increased. 



