EXPERIENCES OF SPORT. 



and walked up to him, when lo ! about five 

 yards in front of him was the owl! He had, in 

 some way, managed to get out of the game-bag, 

 and there he sat, looking the old dog in the 

 face as unconcernedly as could be. I never saw 

 a man in such a stew as MacA. 'By the 

 powers, Grant, I kilt that bird; I'll take my 

 oath I pressed his breast into his backbone, and 

 look at the divil there. Sorrow's the sup I'll 

 take again if iver I do it any more harm ; it is 

 an illigant fairy, so we will take it home, and 

 instead of adding it to my collection, I'll trate it 

 like one of my own kindred.' Well, we put it 

 into the bag again, wrapped a silk handkerchief 

 round it, and buttoned up the carnassiere close, 

 and in due time arrived at home, housed and 

 fed the dogs, and went into the kitchen to hand 

 over to Le Comte our day's sport, and the won- 

 derful owl to be put into a place of safety. 

 When we turned him out he was, to all appear- 

 ance, without a mark, nor could we discover 

 any blood on his feathers ; had there been any 

 we might easily have seen it, as he was white. 

 On being touched he never offered to bite or 

 use his claws, which are most formidable in all 



