RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 89 



appearance, the king of owls. It is a rare visitant 

 in England ; its favourite home being among the 

 perpetual snows of the northern regions. Its 

 thick feathery coating makes it impervious to the 

 intensity of the cold, and its dazzling plumage 

 renders it almost invisible as it skims along the 

 snowy plains ; so that it can approach its prey un- 

 awares. 



But the most common, familiar, and useful of 

 all British owls, is the BAKN, or WHITE OWL. 



" The owl that, watching in the barn, 

 Sees the mouse creeping in the corn, 

 Sits still, and shuts his -round blue eyes 

 As if he slept until he 'spies 

 The little beast within his stretch 

 Then starts, and seizes on the wretch ! " 



This bird, instead of avoiding man, comes close to 

 his dwelling, and often frequents the barns and 

 sheds of the farmer, whose true friend he is. 



Mr. Waterton, a naturalist of note, paid the 

 greatest attention to the habits of this bird, and 

 has given a very interesting account of them, 

 and the benefits it confers on man. He says : 

 " This pretty aerial wanderer of the night often 

 comes into my room ; and after flitting to-and-fro, 

 on wing so soft and silent that he is scarcely heard, 

 he takes his departure from the same window at 

 which he had entered. I own I have a great liking 



