JSIRDS OF NIGHT. 33 



cepting what is necessary to supply their immediate 

 wants. In some weathers I am positive they cannot 

 hunt, for if any member of the owl family gets its 

 plumage wet it is in a sorry plight. The poor bird 

 is wretched, and will not eat till it has loosened out 

 its matted feathers. 



When they are dry, and shake themselves, a pow- 

 dery dust flies out from them. They dust themselves 

 like poultry, rolling first on one side and them on 

 the other, kicking and striking with their feet in the 

 very height of enjoyment. I give my pets about a 

 quart of sifted road-sand on a thick sheet of brown 

 paper. As a rule the early morning is the time for 

 their dust-bath. They drink very sparingly, only 

 taking one or two sips at a time. 



A keeper's lad that I knew said, " I has orders 

 from the head un to kill every varmint owl I comes 

 across. He says they comes on the coops of a night 

 when we've got the young pheasants." 



" How can they get at the young birds when they 

 are closed up in the coops for the night ? " 



" I never thought of that. I don't see as they 

 can. No, it ain't in reason." 



" Have you got any mice about ? " 

 c 



