2o6 BIRDS 



flight, it is small wonder that an Owl is so suc- 

 cessful in its hunting expeditions, stalking and 

 approaching its prey almost unawares, and to 

 see one at the gloaming hour assiduously working 

 along some favourite hedgerow is a sight not 

 easily forgotten. The extent of the wing-stretch 

 is very noticeable, and the bird really appears — 

 when seen upon the wing — ^larger than it is when 

 at rest. 



I remember watching a beautiful specimen of a 

 Barn Owl on one occasion, and had the rare good 

 fortune to put the bird to flight during the day- 

 time. It is rather an interesting story culled 

 direct from one of my many wanderings in the 

 wonderland of bird life. 



I was making my accustomed pilgrimage 

 through a favourite belt of woodland in early 

 Spring, and, as I reached a little clump of tall 

 Laurels growing in the wood, I found to my regret 

 the recently deceased body of a fine Barn Owl 

 upon the ground. 



Probably the bird had been shot or trapped by 

 the keeper upon the estate, he, stupid fellow, 

 being too ignorant to realise that he was in reality 

 destroying one of his greatest feathered bene- 

 factors. 



I stooped down to examine the mangled corpse, 

 and, after much indignation at such unwarranted 

 slaughter, dived under the tall Laurels hard by 



