WINTER NEIGHBORS 67 



keeps himself in spring and summei T do not fa ow, 



but late every fall, aiul at intervals all winter, his 

 hiding-place is discovered by the jays and Qut-hatch 

 and proclaimed from the tree-tops for the B] of 



half an hour or so, with all the powers of voir, 

 can command. Four times during one wintei they 

 called me out to behold this little ogre feigning Bleep 

 in Ms den, sometimes in one apple-tree, sometim >,a in 

 another, j Whenever I heard their cries, I knew my 

 neighbor was being berated. The birds would take 

 turns at looking in upon him and uttering their alarm* 

 notes. Every jay within hearing would coin.- to the 

 spot and at once approach the hole in the trunk 01 

 limb, and with a kind of breathless eagerness and 

 citement take a peep at the owl, and then join the 

 outcry. When I approached they would hastily take 

 a final look and then withdraw and regard mv m< 

 merits intently. After accustoming my eye to the 

 faint light of the cavity for a few moments, I could 

 usually make out the owl at the bottom feigning Bleep. 

 Feigning, I say, because this is what he really did, as 

 I first discovered one day when I cut into his retreat 

 with the axe. The loud blows and the falling chips 

 did not disturb him at all. When I reached in 

 stick and pulled him over on his side, leaving one of 

 his wings spread out, he made no attempt to re 

 himself, but lay among the chips and fragments oi 

 decayed wood, like a part of themselvi [ndeed, it 

 took a sharp eye to distinguish him. Nor till J : 

 pulled him forth by one wing, rather rudelj 

 abandon his trick of simulated sleep or death. Then 

 like a detected pickpocket, he was suddenly 

 formed into another creature. His eyes flew wi 

 apen, his talons clutched my finger, hi ears were de- 



