The Great Horned Owl 299 



though borne on the wings of the night, a something 

 had added a foot or more to the height of the old 

 stub, slightly changing its outline, although it seemed 

 as stark and silent as before. 



As the darkness deepened, the sounds from the 

 wood folk grew more numerous, but ears accus- 

 tomed to them gave little heed. "Whoo, hoo-hoo- 

 wh-o-o," sounded again, so close this time as to 

 startle even the watcher of the old stub. To the boy 

 the swamp seemed suddenly to become as silent as 

 the grave, save for the distant, hoarse quawk of the 

 night heron. But to the delicate ears of the listening 

 owl there was a hurried movement, a tell-tale sound, 

 and before the echoes of that terrible call had died 

 away, what appeared to be a part of the stub had 

 taken wing and silently swept into the tall grass by 

 a clump of bushes. The owl emerged a few moments 

 later with what appeared to be a rabbit in its talons 

 and winged its way towards its nest. 



For an hour the boy watched and waited, but not 

 again that night did he see the owl or hear his call. 

 However, he was satisfied, for he had seen the Great 

 Horned Owl at his hunting. 



After the young owls left the nest, the hunting call 

 was less frequently heard, but again in the autumn, 

 and occasionally through the winter, it sounded from 



