ROUND ABOUT THE HOMESTEADS. 21 



pure white. The Swift is never seen to alight on 

 the ground to gather nest materials, but seizes 

 any straw or feather that may chance to be blown 

 into the air ; or, I often suspect, is guilty of con- 

 fiscating part of the Sparrows' nests. It has been 

 stated that the Swift is incapable of rising from a 

 flat surface, but this is entirely erroneous, as may 

 easily be proved by any one inclined to make the 

 experiment. 



In the outbuildings of the farm, in the old 

 belfry of the village church, among the ivied 

 ruins, or even in the large caves among the rocks, 

 we may still commonly meet with the BARN OWL 



j f+ ft \ rrt i i r i distributed. 



(binx flammea). Inis pretty bird of night may 

 be readily distinguished from all the other Owls 

 by its pure white underparts and long, narrow 

 face set with two piercing black eyes. It may 

 also always be known by its loud, far-sounding 

 hoot enough to startle the most stolid person if 

 heard at close quarters, say below the church 

 tower at midnight, when the moon in ghostly 

 radiance is lighting up the white tombstones. A.. 

 day long you may find the Owl at home, blinking 

 and dozing in his favourite corner, with the bats 

 for his companions, waiting for dusk. Then, as 

 the shadows darken and the twilight dies away, 

 he rouses himself from his lethargy and becomes 

 filled with activity and business. Forth he sallies 

 with a loud screech of pleasure forth to the neigh- 

 bouring fields in quest of mice. All night long 

 he is astir, flapping about on soft, noiseless wings, 

 dropping down upon these unsuspecting creatures. 

 To and fro he passes, in and out of the old tower 

 or the barn, bringing food to his young ones or 

 his mate. The Barn Owl pairs for life, and 



