The Great Horned Owl 291 



into the crotch of a tree, ceasing to be curious about 

 those passing below, as the ominous and almost super- 

 natural "Whoo-hoo-hoo-wohoo-o," sounded through 

 the dismal swamp and echoed through the maple 

 grove. This was the hunting call of the Great Horned 

 Owl. 



The actions of the rabbit and squirrel fully con- 

 firmed the many stories concerning this bird in its 

 relation to the smaller mammals. The boy had 

 always heard that this owl was a veritable Nero 

 among the feathered race. He had seen the feathers 

 from the ruffed grouse on the snow among the low 

 hemlocks, with not even a track left behind to give 

 a clue to the little tragedy enacted in the silent forest ; 

 he remembered, also, about the disappearance the fall 

 before of some chickens from a tree close by the 

 barn, and later one of the bodies being found on 

 a high fence post with the head eaten away. While 

 these thoughts were passing through his mind the 

 boy was nearing the swamp, when his reverie was 

 again broken by the dismal hoot of the owl. Already 

 he knew a great deal about the shy wood folk, whether 

 in fur or feathers, but as yet he had never discovered 

 the nest of the Great Horned Owl. It was now the 

 first week in March, and of late he had frequently 

 heard the weird call from the swamp, causing him 



