BIRDS OF NIGHT. 27 



you don't know nothing about it. They're var- 

 mints. Owls or hawks, or nothing of that sort 

 never did any good nor never will ; but you can 

 look at 'em, and keep on lookin' at 'em. You won't 

 get any good out of that lot." These were the 

 sentiments on the whole family of raptores birds 

 of prey which the keeper shared with nearly all 

 of his calling. 



As a field naturalist, I will pass over the eagle 

 and snow owls they are fare visitors to England, 

 their home being in other lands and will try to 

 give some description, from personal observation, 

 of the members of the owl tribe more commonly 

 found in this country. 



The sun has gone down, leaving an after-glow 

 which throws a flood of soft light over the land- 

 scape. The old farmhouse and buildings, sur- 

 rounded by large elms, are enveloped in a purple 

 haze, which affords much enjoyment to the lover 

 of nature, whose reverie is undisturbed. Silence 

 is only broken by the tinkling of distant sheep-bells 

 and the occasional barking of the shepherds' dogs. 

 With measured flapping flight, out from the farm 

 comes the beautifully buff- marked, white-breasted, 



