TAWNY OWL 



prove that any one stood near him in the darkness. However, 

 the clergyman was convinced that a man had struck him, and 

 would no doubt have believed it to this day had it not been for 

 the fact that, in passing the same spot the following morning, a 

 Brown Owl swooped down from her nest and gave him another 

 blow. 



I suppose there are more tales circulated about Owls than any 

 other bird, and the following anecdote would be hard to beat, 

 while it clearly shows that even in this enlightened age there 

 are some who have very scanty knowledge of natural history. 

 The Rev. Julian G. Tuck, a well-known Suffolk bird -lover, 

 was speaking to a friend who had been preaching for him, 

 and who told him that a pair of Brown Owls were in his 

 church tower. They chatted about the birds for a few minutes, 

 and then the minister gravely asked the question : ' And do 

 they lay eggs?' Mr. Tuck was so taken aback at the strange 

 query that he simply answered, that of course they did ; but it 

 is a pity that he did not continue the conversation, as he might 

 have obtained some more amusing information. 



We can usually discover the day haunt of the Tawny Owl by 

 the loud chattering of birds. No matter how well hidden the 

 bird may be, a Blackbird, a Chaffinch, or a Wren will discover 

 it, and with loud calls these will attract numerous companions to 

 the spot, and for hours they simply hurl angry notes at the owl, 

 who, through it all dozes unconcernedly, as may be seen from my 

 illustration. 



It is really marvellous how rapidly the smaller birds will 

 discover an Owl. My readers can have a vast amount of innocent 

 amusement by placing in their garden a stuffed Brown Owl, if 

 they possess one. As soon as this is put in a tree or a bush, 

 some inquisitive small bird will discover the supposed enemy, and 

 one by one its companions will gather around, until sometimes 



53 K 



