THE OWL. 



We know not alway 

 Who are kings by day, 

 But the king of the night is the bold brown owl! 



I wonder why the folks put 

 my picture last in the book. It 

 can't be because they don't like 

 me, for I'm sure I never bother 

 them. I don't eat the farmer's 

 corn like the crow, and no one 

 ever saw me quarrel with other 

 birds. 



Maybe it is because I can't 

 sing. Well, there are lots of 

 good people that can't sing, and 

 so there are lots of good birds 

 that can't sing. 



Did you ever see any other 

 bird sit up as straight as I do? 

 I couldn't sit up so straight if I 

 hadn't such long, sharp claws to 

 hold on with. 



My V home is in the woods. 

 Here we owls build our nests — 

 most always in hollow trees. 



During the day I stay in the 

 nest or sit on a limb. I don't 

 like day time for the light hurts 

 my eyes, but when it begins to 

 grow dark then I like to stir 

 around. All night long I am 



wide awake and fly about getting 

 food for my little hungry ones. 

 They sleep most of the day 

 and it keeps me busy nearly 

 all night to find them enough to 

 eat. 



I just finished my night's work 

 when the man came to take my 

 picture. It was getting light 

 and I told him to go to a large 

 stump on the edge of the woods 

 and I would sit for my picture. 

 So here I am. Don't you think 

 I look wise? How do you like 

 my large eyes ? If I could smile 

 at you I would, but my face 

 always looks sober. I have a 

 great many cousins and if you 

 really like my picture, I'll have 

 some of them talk to you next 

 month. I don't think any of 

 them have such pretty feathers 

 though. Just see if they have 

 when they come. 



Well, I must fly back to my 

 perch in the old elm tree. Good- 

 bye. 



59 



