398 LITTLE OWL. 



the continent forcibly recurred to my mind, and rendered me doubly 

 eager to discover its soxirce. This, however, I found to be no easy mat- 

 ter. After proceeding a considerable distance in the woods the sound 

 became suddenly sharp and shrill, and seemed so close behind me that 

 I started involuntarily. Having carefully examined all the adjacent 

 trees without success, I was about giving it up in despair, when the 

 note which first attracted my attention seemed to come in the former 

 direction. Before I had advanced many steps, the sound changed as 

 before ; at one moment it seemed behind me, the next upon the right 

 hand, then upon the left, and then it resumed its former distant mel- 

 low tone. This occurred so often, that I was completely puzzled and 

 tempted to give up the pursuit, but still the desire of finding out the 

 origin of the sound urged me on. After proceeding a considerable 

 distance farther, I found that the bell-like sound now came from the 

 opposite direction, and seemed far beyond the spot where I first heard 

 it. Retracing my steps I entered a small cleared spot, in the centre 

 of which stood a black birch, whose dead and decayed top projected be- 

 yond a vigorous growth of fresh branches, by which its sides were 

 clothed. As I seated myself upon a prostrate log, the shrill note was 

 suddenly resumed, and from the direction of the sound I was convinced 

 that it proceeded from the birch tree. Almost breathless with expec- 

 tation, I carefully'examined the tree from top to bottom, but the secret 

 still remained concealed. Moving cautiously round, I examined the 

 other side of the tree, but with no better success, until going to the 

 root, and directing my eye along the trimk, I observed a small protu- 

 berance, which at first appeared to be a knot. Inspecting it more 

 closely, however, I found it to be the head of the Little Grey Owl, pro- 

 truded from a small aperture, which probably formed the entrance of 

 its nest. Though standing directly beneath the bird, it did not seem 

 to observe me, but continued to call for its mate. While watching the 

 Owl, I observed with no little surprise that the sound which I thought 

 came from a distance, as well as that which was near, actually pro- 

 ceeded from the same source. This singular power of altering the 

 voice I have never found in any other bird, and to me it appeared ana- 

 logous to that by which ventriloquists are able to make the voice seem 

 near or remote. Having enjoyed the pleasing deception for some time, 

 I left the little performer unmolested, feeling abundantly recompensed 

 for my long tramp through mire and slush by the curious discovery. 



