them and they were on the defensive with all the 

 tricks of appearance staring eyes, snapping bill 

 and uncanny wavering motion of the head. Like 

 some phantom creature, the old bird came and 

 went, leaping noiselessly into the darkness and 

 reappearing as by magic. 



The owlets took their beetles with avidity, 

 swallowing them whole and gulping and gagging 

 in the process in a manner indicative of discomfit 

 rather than any satisfaction over the meal. Once 

 the mother brought what in the darkness appeared 

 to be a small mouse, and this too was swallowed 

 by one little owl, but only after heroic and pro- 

 trafted efforts. 



It was no great matter on the following day to 

 gain the confidence of the young owls to a slight 

 degree. But food was the only bond of affinity. 

 So long as I fed them they were content to perch 

 on my finger, fierce and solemn little ruffians, and 

 devour bits of raw meat. Their manners remained 

 sullen and forbidding, though they never refused 

 to eat. Soon they lost even this slight contad: with 

 our world and disappeared into their own the 

 nocturnal and barbarous world of the owl. 



Every year there is fresh evidence that the 



35 



