CH. XXXI. PLUMAGE, ETC., OF OWLS. 169 



far better, for the furtherance of natural history, if 

 people, instead of having a rare bird badly stuffed 

 and put into a distorted shape and attitude, with 

 projections where no projections should be, and hol- 

 lows where there should be none, would be content 

 to keep merely the skin just sufficiently filled with 

 cotton or tow to prevent its shrinking. 



The owls have all extremely hard and needle-like 

 claws, and in every respect the bird is singularly 

 well adapted for its manner of feeding, which it 

 does almost wholly at night. Its immensely large 

 ears must enable it to hear the slightest movement 

 of the field-mouse, upon which it chiefly feeds ; and 

 its sharply-pointed talons contract with a tenacity 

 and closeness unequalled by those of any of the 

 hawk tribe, excepting perhaps the hen-harrier. 

 Again, the soft downy feathers and rounded wings 

 of the owl enable it to flit as noiselessly as a shadow 

 to and fro, as it searches for the quick-eared mouse, 

 whom the least sound would at once startle and 

 drive into its hole, out of reach of its deadly enemy. 

 As it is, the mouse feeds on in heedless security, 

 with eyes and nose busily occupied in searching 

 for grains of corn or seeds, and depending on its 

 quickly sensitive ear to warn it of the approach of 

 any danger. The foot of man, or even the tread of 

 dog or cat, it is sure to hear ; but the owl glides 



