BEHIND THE VEIL IN BIRDLAND 



a large flock of angry and excited birds will be hopping and 

 flying about, and doing almost everything except actually attacking 

 the intruder. 



In a Tawny Owl's larder I once found the remains of a 

 Blackbird rather a large bird for this Owl to take ; but I 

 should think, probably, that it attacked the larger bird and paid 

 with its life its overboldness. 



I have sometimes wondered what the lesser birds would do 

 if the somewhat sleepy and much - unconcerned Owl was to 

 suddenly rush at one of them? As more birds gather around, 

 they seem to become bolder, and no doubt find their safety in 

 numbers ; but should the Owl so much as move its head ever 

 so slightly it will be noticed that the visitors hurriedly move 

 farther away. Their method seems to be to make all the noise 

 they possibly can while the enemy is still, but should he make 

 the slightest sign of movement they fly to a safer or more 

 distant point of observation. 



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