124 FROM BLOMIDON TO SMOKY. 



rose-breasted grosbeaks generally came to see 

 what caused so much outcry, but they never ap- 

 proached close to the owl. During the flight of 

 j uncos, white-throats, and white-crowned spar- 

 rows in October, these species seemed to care 

 almost nothing about Puffy after a first bustling 

 visit of inquiry. 



A bird of great individuality and irregular 

 distribution is found quite abundantly in the 

 Chocorua country. I refer to the great-crested 

 flycatcher, which, by the way, has always placed 

 snake skins in those of its nests that I have 

 found. No amount of bird clamor will bring 

 this self-contained and suspicious citizen near my 

 owl. He has his own affairs to care for, and he 

 has a contempt for brawls and gossip. Similar 

 indifference was shown the owl in a less marked 

 way by the smaller flycatchers, but the kingbirds 

 maintained their reputation for bullying by at- 

 tacking Puffy and striking him lightly again 

 and again by well-directed darts from above. 



The swallows and swifts delighted to tease the 

 owl by dashing past him and fanning him with 

 their wings. They showed no fear or hatred. 

 Kingfishers took no notice of him. The black- 

 billed cuckoo came near, and had a good deal 

 to say in a reproachful voice, but its controlling 

 emotion seemed to be curiosity rather than fear. 

 Late one afternoon in August (the 2d), I placed 



