CHAPTER X 



BIRDS OF THE NIGHT 

 (THE TAWNY AND LONG-EARED OWLS) 



WHEN night creeps across the country, 

 filling the woodlands with gloom, 

 so that the creatures of the day retreat 

 to their hiding places, the Tawny Owl awakes 

 to activity. It fluffs out its feathers, leaves its 

 perch, and with ringing hoot advises the forest 

 world that the time has come for the birds and 

 beasts of the night to leave their lurking places. 

 The Brown, Tawny, or Wood Owl, as it is 

 variously called, is a beautiful bird, with its soft 

 fluffy plumage delicately pencilled with browns 

 and greys, tones that harmonize with the 

 markings of the tree trunks against which it 

 so often sits, making it one of the most difficult 

 of birds to see when at rest. With its great 

 dark eyes, and the spectacled effect of its facial 

 markings, this owl has a look of solemn con- 

 templation which belies its real character, for 

 it enjoys life in its way just as much as the rest 

 of the wild world, and holds nightly revels, 

 when it makes the country-side ring with its 



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