BIRDS OF NIGHT. 29 



and their young all the year round. I cannot say 

 that they form their exclusive diet, for, as you can 

 see from the owls' castings, they occasionally eat 

 birds. 



If you come upon a barn owl in the daytime, 

 perched on a rafter in some out-building, or sitting 

 on the grate of your bedroom, as you are dressing 

 some morning, which haven he has reached by flying 

 down the wide old-fashioned farmhouse chimney 

 this is not of so unfrequent occurrence as you might 

 think he will look at you in a wonderfully wise 

 manner, and if you steadily return his gaze, it is very 

 comical to see what strange antics he will play, bob- 

 bing up and down and twisting his head from side 

 to side. Should you try to make a nearer acquaint- 

 ance with him, he will look at you for a moment 

 and then deliberately turn over on his back, with his 

 claws drawn upon his breast, looking the very pic- 

 ture of helpless innocence. Do not pick him up 

 unless your hand is protected by a stout leather 

 glove ; for, in spite of his appearance, he is a brave 

 bird and a determined fighter, and like a cat, is no 

 foe to be despised when he is on his back. 



If you catch him, and tame him by kindness and 



