74 Wilderness Ways. 



There is another way in which he is easily fooled. 

 In the early spring, when he is mating, and again in 

 the autumn, when the young birds are well fed and 

 before they have learned much, you can bring him 

 close up to you by imitating his hunting call. In the 

 wilderness, where these birds are plenty, I have often 

 had five or six about me at once. You have only to 

 go well out beyond your tent, and sit down quietly, 

 making yourself part of the place. Give the call a 

 few times, and if there is a young bird near with a 

 full stomach, he will answer, and presently come 

 nearer. Soon he is in the tree over your head, and 

 if you keep perfectly still he will set up a great hoot- 

 ing that you have called him and now do not answer. 

 Others are attracted by his calling ; they come in 

 silently from all directions; the outcry is startling. 

 The call is more nervous, more eerie, much more 

 terrifying close at hand than when heard in the dis- 

 tance. They sweep about like great dark shadows, 

 hoo-hoo-hooing and frolicking in their own uncanny 

 way ; then go off to their separate watch towers and 

 their hunting. But the chances are that you will be 

 awakened with a start more than once in the night, 

 as some inquisitive young owl comes back and gives 

 the hunting call in the hope of finding out what the 

 first summons was all about. 



