212 BIRD PARADISE 



bers of this species migrate, while a portion of 

 them stay at the North. One would rather like 

 to know how they divide the responsibility, giv- 

 ing each his duty to perform. In the domain of 

 instinct, however, I can as readily understand 

 how only a portion of those moved by it should 

 obey its monitions as how all should. I appre- 

 hend the birds know little or nothing concerning 

 it at heart. I get nothing from them but the 

 simple facts. 



A short visit from a little screech-owl one 

 morning this week gave a sort of introduction 

 to the day that rarely occurs in the parson's ex- 

 perience. The fellow's call came from the trees 

 on the front lawn. It was hardly light enough 

 to detect his form but the weird hooting was 

 easily a thing of the night. Of all the owls this 

 smallest of all is gifted with a voice and use of 

 it that distinguishes him among all his tribe. I 

 failed to detect him in the trees but caught his 

 hooting over and over. What an uncanny sound 

 it is and how it awakens the echoes of the dim 

 morning light. A little later I heard him from 

 the orchards east of the village and I conclude 

 with the rising of the sun he went his way to the 



