in praise of Otuls.



169



He became mine in 1910 by a lucky chance. I had been to

the Zoological Gardens to see the Pearl Spotted Owlets then on view

in the Small Birds’ House, and my heart was heavy with envy and

covetousness. I walked down Oxford Street, meaning to go to

Mudies’, and suddenly I saw across the street a tiny Owl bobbing up

and down in a cage in Wilson’s window. I rushed across, and five

minutes later the deal was concluded. The shopman told me that

the Owl had been brought from Mexico by a ship’s captain, and that

it was the second he had brought them ; the first, a larger bird,

probably a female, was already sold. My individual’s plumage was

somewhat ragged and he had only the stump of a tail to wag, but he

was as cheerful and healthy as possible. His plumage has long ago

recovered, except two flight feathers, which have never grown and I

fear never will. His predominant trait is curiosity. When visitors

approach he retires to his private corner, but soon reappears, and,

with excited chirps and twitching tail, takes stock of the strangers.

Though so small, he is both fierce and courageous: some time ago it

was necessary to transfer him to another house and I anticipated

some difficulty on account of his extraordinary rapid movements.

Pigmy, however, instead of trying' to get away from me turned on

his back in a fury and defied me, biting and scratching his worst,

while his yellow eyes fairly flamed. He eats mice'and small birds,

generally “killing” his food as soon as it is put in, and he may be

seen dancing exultantly with the prey tightly clutched by the neck

in one foot; he is not a very large eater. He bathes once a day as

a rule and- very thoroughly.


This list comes to an end with the Sparrow Owls. I have

not had them more than two months, and they are still something of

distinguished strangers. Mr. A.B. Jamrach obtained them in Switzer¬

land for me. They arrived in beautiful condition, and given ordinary

luck should do well. At present they spend much of their time in

retreat, but I hope when their new house is completed to see more

of them. They are tremendous bathers and good trencher-men. I

was advised to cut up their food, but I find they manage it quite

well for themselves ; the sparrows and mice, which are their daily

bread, presenting no difficulty to them. These tiny Owls are smaller

even than the Mexican Pigmy, but they twitch their tails like him



