In Defence of Desolation. 179 



the cavernous hollow of an old tree, may be 

 tempted to come out, and a splendid fellow he 

 is ; or if not abroad, he may be sitting at the 

 doorway of his home, enjoying the sunless pros- 

 pect, and thankful that the glaring sunshine is 

 this day spared him. If not so fortunate as to 

 see this noble owl, he can be searched for and 

 routed out, if adventure so far moves you ; but 

 this I never advise. 



Owls seem nearer to Nature than do other 

 birds. There is an air of mystery about them 

 that rouses our interest. We ask ourselves 

 more questions when brought face to face with 

 an owl than we do in the case of any other bird. 

 Theirs is no meaningless stare. They can look 

 us out of countenance, and put as much in- 

 telligence into their eyes as we can in ours. 



There is some reason for calling the owl the 

 bird of wisdom ; and yet there is cause for 

 wondering if the crow is not mentally his su- 

 perior. Crows are not disheartened by the 

 gloom of late autumn. If the fog is too dense 

 to fly through it, they rise above it or trot about 

 the ground, discussing the situation with their 

 fellows. Is this speaking too positively? I 



