OWLS. 29 



This, of course, is not the season for eggs, 

 but it is funny enough to note how these cun- 

 ning birds strive to keep their practice up by 

 making believe that they have still something 

 from which to divert your attention. They 

 seem to know exactly what a dog can do, 

 and how far a gun will carry, and they flutter 

 and hover about, always quite innocently, 

 but just out of range of dog or gun. 



Owls used to be very numerous about here ; 

 but since the old barns were pulled down, 

 and new ones erected, they have almost dis- 

 appeared. They seem to belong to a dying- 

 out race, and cannot put up with such inno- 

 vations as brick-built and slate-roofed barns. 

 Old thatch-covered, tumble-down buildings, 

 with plenty of mice about, suit them best, 

 and as these old buildings give place to new 

 ones the old-fashioned race of barn owls will 

 disappear from the country. 



" The mousing owl " is still to be heard in 

 the neighbouring woods complaining to the 

 moon. He is said by Gilbert White to hoot 

 in three keys in G flat or F sharp, iqJS flat, 

 and A flat. 



Sunday was a dies non, so far as this re- 

 cord is concerned. By Monday morning I 

 am myself again, beginning to feel quite at 

 home on the farm just as I am compelled to 



