44 WITHIN AN HOUR OF LONDON TOWN. 



what his opinion about myself is, and the only index 

 I have to it is in his eyes, which at times seem 

 to speak volumes. I do think in some way or other 

 my various moods influence him, he looks at me so 

 strangely. It is not fear, for he is a spoilt pet 

 but sometimes I fancy he takes me to be a giant owl 

 who knows everything, for I talk to him in his 

 own tongue. There is a totally different expression 

 in his eyes when he looks at my wife, that of 

 confidence. 



Why Patch should be called a night-owl I do 

 not know, for he feeds by day and runs about then 

 too ; and barks, crows, and chatters by day as well 

 as by night. The ringing bark is stated to be 

 peculiar to the coquimbo, or prairie owl. That 

 is not so, it is also Patch's bark, which is the same 

 as that of the great eagle-owl, and equally loud. 

 One is the giant, the other the dwarf of their tribe. 

 Another peculiarity I note is, whilst as a rule my 

 bird and others are often represented in illustrations 

 in a stooping posture before fixing their prey, in 

 reality this bird draws his body up to the full height, 

 throws the head back, and then strikes with bill 

 and foot. A wonderful hand -like foot it is. He 



