THE OWL KIND. 119 



the owl disagreeable. The screech-owl's voice 

 was always considered among the people as a 

 presage of some sad calamity that was soon to 

 ensue. 



They seldom, however, are heard while they 

 are preying; that important pursuit is always 

 attended with silence, as it is by no means their 

 intention to disturb or forewarn those little ani- 

 mals they wish to surprise. When their pur- 

 suit has been successful, they soon return to 

 their solitude, or to their young, if that be the 

 season. If, however, they find but little game, 

 they continue their quest still longer ; and it some- 

 times happens, that, obeying the dictates of ap- 

 petite rather than of prudence, they pursue so 

 long that broad day breaks in upon them, and 

 leaves them dazzled, bewildered, and at a dis- 

 tance from home. 



In this distress, they are obliged to take shel- 

 ter in the first tree or hedge that offers, there to 

 continue concealed all day, till the returning dark- 

 ness once more supplies them with a better plan 

 of the country. But it too often happens, that, 

 with all their precaution to conceal themselves, 

 they are spied out by the other birds of the place, 

 and are sure to receive no mercy. The black- 

 bird, the thrush, the jay, the bunting, and the 

 red-breast, all come in file, and employ their 

 little arts of insult and abuse. The smallest, 

 the feeblest, and the most contemptible of this 

 unfortunate bird's enemies are then the foremost 

 to injure and torment him. They increase their 

 cries and turbulence round him, flap him with 



