OWLS. 187 



young Owls were observed to perch after they had left 

 the nest, and where the old ones were accustomed 

 to feed them. How they caught them was not then 

 known ; and the report of some labourers, em- 

 ployed to watch a fish-pond in the flower-garden, 

 was not believed. This pond contained several gold 

 and silver fish, which were observed to diminish in 

 number, and it was suspected that the pond had 

 been poached, and other persons were therefore 

 appointed to watch ; when lo ! the poachers proved 

 to be Owls, which alighted on the edge of the water, 

 and there waited the approach of the fish: as soon as 

 these came within reach, they were captured and de- 

 voured. This testimony has since been corroborated 

 by another witness, who, at twilight in July, happened 

 to be standing on the middle of a bridge, watching 

 an Owl carrying mice to its nest, when suddenly he 

 observed it to drop perpendicularly into the water. 

 At first, he thought it had met with an accident, 

 <5r had been seized with some sort' of fit, but before 

 he could reach the end of the bridge in search of a 

 boat, he saw it rise out of the water with a fish in its 

 claws, and convey it to its nest. It has been con- 

 jectured by some, that as fish are attracted by a light 

 or any shining substance, there may be a luminous 

 appearance in the large round and bright eyes of an 

 Owl, like those of a cat, which are known to all for 

 their glaring in the dark, by which the fish are at- 

 tracted within reach of its beak or claws. How far 

 this conjecture may be true we know not, but it 

 is worthy of consideration, on account of a very 

 singular power possessed by one of the American 

 Bitterns, which has been confirmed by several wit- 



