1 68 BIRDS, BEASTS, AND FISHES 



and get them to stand in the soft light of the moon under 

 a stack, watching intently for an owl to alight on the 

 yellow-grey straw. As he stands intently looking for the 

 wary bird, a pail of icy water is dashed upon him from 

 behind; and even at sea some "soft" will look for the 

 owl down the galley-chimney, receiving a ducking for his 

 pains. 



Perhaps the stupidity of the bird when startled from some 

 gorse or reed-covered shed into bright daylight accounts 

 for the contempt in which the owl is usually held by the 

 fenmen, for he flies stupidly about till he finds another 

 shed wherein to lie up. In the spring the boys search the 

 steeple or ivied ruin or tree for his well-known eggs and 

 young ; but they must take care, for he is a dangerous 

 fellow when attacked, as a friend of mine found. He shot 

 at an owl one evening on a marsh near a farm, and winged 

 it, the big bird fluttering to the marsh. Taking off his 

 cap, he ran up to capture him, when the big bird drew 

 back its head, its great eyes blazing with fury, opening 

 its mouth and hissing like a serpent. As he approached 

 the irate creature, the owl seized his cap in its talons with a 

 vicious and exultant grip a sort of " Fve-got-you-now " 

 feeling gleaming in its fierce round eyes. Whereupon 

 my friend began the battle by seizing its throat, trying to 

 strangle him ; but he could not, and at length he felt his grip 

 loosening, and the big eyes blazed fiercer than ever, when 

 suddenly it let go of the cap and seized him by the thumb 

 with one talon, the sharp sickle-like claws meeting in his 

 flesh ; and, indeed, the owl now had the advantage, for 

 my friend's grasp upon its throat was getting weaker and 

 weaker, and the pain severer, whilst the owl was getting 

 more vigorous than ever. 



As my friend looked helplessly about him, he saw the 

 sluggish dike, and carrying the bird over to the water, he 

 knelt down by the grassy shore and plunged his hand, owl 

 and all, into the water. A few bubbles arose on the still 



