WAYS OF THE OWL. 191 



toward and on a level with their feet, and say, 

 somewhat sternly, " Get on." They generally 

 bite the stick once and then step upon it, and 

 cling to it patiently while I carry them through 

 any kind of country. When I wish to have 

 them attract other birds I hold them toward 

 a convenient branch and say, " Get off," which 

 they are very willing to do. Then by whistles 

 or cries I attract some bird's attention, and if it 

 proves to be a titmouse, a woodpecker, a thrush, 

 or some other excitable bird, the alarm is given, 

 and from all quarters the neighbors come pour- 

 ing in to join the tumult. Even while holding 

 Puffy on a stick and walking with him, I have had 

 birds attack him. Once a pair of solitary vireos 

 followed me for some distance, one of them fly- 

 ing between my head and the owl three times, 

 apparently not noticing me any more than though 

 I had been a tree. A similar attack from a sharp- 

 shinned hawk was more surprising than pleasant. 

 Some species are less demonstrative than others, 

 and seem to think silence and retreat wiser than 

 vituperation. Cedar -birds, great crested fly- 

 catchers, and scarlet tanagers are three species 

 which seldom greet Puffy noisily. Game birds, 

 as a rule, are too much afraid of me to remain 

 near the owl, and the same is true of water-fowl. 

 Loons have, however, shown curiosity on discov- 

 ering Puffy, and sandpipers clearly dislike him. 



