BiRDS. 101 



nlarmiiig and disagreeable. Father Kircher, who has set the 

 voices of birds to music, has given all the tones of the owl note, 

 which make a most tremendous melody. Indeed, the prejudices 

 of mankind are united with their sensations to make the cry of 

 the owl disagreeable. The screech-owl's voice was always con- 

 sidered among the people as a presage of some sad calamity that 

 was soon to ensue. 



They seldom, however, are heard while they are preying; 

 that important pursuit is always attended with silence, as it is 

 by no means their intention to disturb or forewarn those little 

 animals they wish to surprise. When their pursuit has been 

 successful, they soon return to their solitude, or to their young, 

 if that be the season. If, however, they liiid but little game, 

 they continue their quest still longer ; and it sometimes happens 

 that, obeying the dictates of appetite rather than of prudence, 

 they pursue so long that broad day breaks in upon them, and 

 leaves them dazzled, bewildered, and at a distance from home. 



In this distresG they are obliged to take shelter in the first 

 tree or hedge that offers, there to continue concealed all day, till 

 the returning darkness once more supplies them with a better 

 plan of the country. But it too often happens that, with all 

 their precaution to conceal themselves, they are spied out by the 

 other birds of the place, and are sure to receive no mercy. The 

 blackbird, the thrush, the jay, the bunting, and the red- breast, 

 all come in file, and employ their little arts of insult and abuse. 

 The smallest, the feeblest, and the most contemptible of this 

 unfortunate bird's enemies, ai"e then the foremost to injure and 

 torment him. They increase their cries and turbulence round 

 him, flap him with their wings, and are ready to show their 

 courage to be great, as they are sensible that their danger is but 

 small. The unfortunate owl, not knowing where to attack or 

 where to fly, patiently sits and suffers all their insults. Aston- 

 ished and dizzy, he only replies to their mockeries by awkward 

 and ridiculous gesture, by turning his head and rolling his eyes 

 with an air of stupidity. It is enough that an owl appears by 

 day, to set the whole grove into a kind of uproar. Either the 

 aversion all the small birds have to this animal, or the conscious- 

 ness of their own security, makes them pursue him without 

 ceasing, while they encourage each other by their mutual cries 

 to lend assistance in this laudable undertaking. 



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