194 



MY LIFE AS A NATURALIST 



less friendly, for he resents the appearance of this Terrier stranger, 

 but will doubtless have concluded peace terms before an auto- 

 graph copy of this volume is added to the other loving tomes in 

 the Homewood library. 



And so the pleasant day passes, by means of walks and talks 

 in wood and garden, and by the firelight's gleam. Happy hours 

 are all too quickly spent, and, when the household has retired 

 and left me strangely alone, the call of a wandering Tawny Owl, 

 just aroused from slumber, sends a shudder coursing through 

 my veins, and I too steal quietly to rest. 



FIG. 80. TAWNY OWL. 



Reaching my bedroom, I cannot even now finally retire, for 

 a beautiful full June moon invites me to lean out of the window, 

 and listen to the gentle lullaby produced by the wind among 

 the heavily-foliaged trees. The Owl is closer now, and, without 

 warning, a Nightingale within earshot utters a rippling note, and 

 ceases as suddenly as it began. It sounded strange during the 

 shadowy stillness of the moonlit hour. 



I have taken the precious volume of " Selected Poems " to 



