30 WITHIN AN HOUR OF LONDON TOWN. 



patience, you will find him a most amusing pet when 

 you have obtained his confidence, as I have done, 

 and as you can do, if you realty have an interest in 

 the matter. Birds are not slow to judge whether 

 you have or no. 



The bird that by daylight looked a humped-up 

 bunch of feathers, stands before you in the evening 

 a bright, active creature, with his breast shining like 

 satin, and his beautiful dark eyes watching all your 

 movements. He will then come at your call, and 

 perch on your hand or chair, and is quite fond ot 

 having his head stroked like a cat. 



I am glad to know that farmers regard barn owls 

 with favour, and will not have one of their best 

 friends molested if they can help it. 



Summer is gone. The wind sobs and sighs 

 through the bare branches of the trees which have 

 lost their leaves. Evening comes quickly upon us. 

 It will be a wild, gusty night, for the setting sun is 

 surrounded by heavy masses of storm-cloud. This 

 is the best hunting-time for the brown owls, and 

 they choose as their hunting-grounds grand, park- 

 like, fern-covered stretches, which have dotted over 



