WHITE OWL. 



returned to its former place, and resumed its slum- 

 bers. One of the most striking peculiarities in this 

 tame owl is said to have been its fondness for 

 music. It would often come into the drawing-room 

 of an evening, on the shoulder of one of the child- 

 ren, and, on hearing the tones of the piano, would 

 sit with its eyes gravely fixed on the instrument, 

 and its head on one side in an attitude of attention ; 

 when, suddenly spreading his wings, he would alight 

 on the keys, and making a dart at the performer's 

 fingers with its beak, would continue hopping about, 

 as if pleased with the execution. 



After a while the flights of this owl into the 

 woods became longer, and he only returned at dusk 

 to receive his usual supper from the person who was 

 in the habit of feeding him, and whom he readily 

 permitted at such times to take him up, and carry 

 him into the house for this purpose. Bye-and-bye 

 it was observed that he did not devour his meal 

 in the kitchen as formerly, but fled along the pas- 

 sage, dragging the meat after him, till he reached 

 the garden-door, when he flew with it to a part 

 of the shrubbery : on being followed, it was dis- 

 covered that he had brought with him a companion, 

 who, not having courage to accompany him the 

 whole way, remained at a respectful distance to re- 

 ceive his bounty. After having served his visitor 

 in this manner, he returned to the kitchen, and 

 leisurely devoured his own portion. This practice 

 was continued for some months, till at length one 

 evening he was missed, and nowhere to be found, : 

 his companion, it is said, continued to visit the spot 



