i66 BIRD PARADISE 



as certainly the weakness of the novice in the af- 

 fairs of every-day life. Born and reared in dark- 

 ness, all their training received under the cloud, 

 it is not at all strange that they look what they 

 are not. In active life, however, they exhibit 

 some traits of fair common sense. That trick of 

 flying with scarcely a tremor of noise they prac- 

 tice to perfection. Using their eyes freely, not 

 only in the twilight but in the dark, without the 

 least particle of injury to the sight, is another 

 device which they employ daily ; keeping almost 

 entirely out of touch with light and the things of 

 light is one of their largest virtues. Holding lit- 

 tle intercourse with their own kith and kin, and 

 for that matter with all other kith and kin. They 

 go on their way songless, in fact, less almost all 

 the bright, cheery things of life. No wonder that 

 owl character gets into the limbos, plays a losing 

 game from first to last. No wonder that the off- 

 flavor in its make-up enlarges steadily, no wonder 

 that they shut all the doors in their house which 

 scarcely needs a door. " Why should not such a 

 fellow's vernacular become simply a hoot?" I 

 have every reason to believe, however, that the 

 owl is one of the creatures of which it is written, 

 " And God saw it was good. " The parson greets 

 him as a member of the great family born from 



