A SURREY RIVER. 141 



fish with one foot and hops with the other ; then up 

 he goes to the young ones. The prize is a good- 

 sized fish, apparently a half-pounder. A great com- 

 motion follows ; there is much flapping of wings and 

 whining on the part of the young owls, as they all 

 shoot off to their dining-room at the foot of the 

 Whites. 



Owls when wet are in a sorry plight, but that is 

 when wet with the rain. All birds and animals have 

 a dislike to that, as a rule, and they will fly or run 

 for shelter. Rain under certain atmospheric influ- 

 ences is very penetrating and depressing to all crea- 

 tures. But into running water the brown owl will 

 dash like any osprey, in order to capture his prey. 

 I have seen him take the water repeatedly. The 

 barn owl, too, will catch fish. 



It is a common mistake to think that when the 

 owl is seen sitting on a branch in the warm sunlight, 

 he has lost his way and is bewildered. He likes 

 dearly to sit and doze in the sun, and will do it for 

 hours if he is not disturbed. Warmth he always 

 seeks. The spot in which he makes his home must 

 be dry and pretty free from draughts. When fright- 

 ened by men or boys, whilst taking his warm nap in 



