168 WOODLAND, MOOR, AND STREAM 



country it is because he has been driven out of his 

 course by contrary gales. Some very remarkable 

 instances of birds coming to grief in this manner 

 have fallen under my own observation. He will live 

 and thrive in captivity with ordinary care and attention. 

 One fine fellow I knew had a very great affection for 

 his master, who had much spare time on his hands, 

 and gave a great deal of it to his bird. He was well 

 repaid for his attention. How the rustic population 

 used to stare when he walked through the place with 

 the grand owl perched on his wrist, and still more 

 when he drove through with his favourite perched on 

 the seat beside him ! Many a wrinkled and mob- 

 capped dame and grey old father would wag their 

 heads after he had passed, and say, ' 'Tain't nateral 

 nohow ; can't be, 'tain't in reason. Tell ye what, 'tis 

 a fermilliar sperrit o' some sort. Mussy oh alive ! 

 did ye ever ! ' For anything I know to the contrary 

 that bird is still living. 



A gentleman I knew made pets of eagle owls. He 

 had a fine place to keep them in ; all that could be 

 desired it was. There was also a man kept specially 

 to look after these birds. I had no idea of this, or I 

 might have hesitated when invited by the owner to 

 look at them before giving advice as to their manage- 

 ment. A fine commotion I made by so doing. I 



