WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 



history of this ill-omened owl, the misfortunes of the pos- 

 sessor were attributed to this unfortunate Scotopelia peli. 



Another instance of the credulity of our race respecting 

 the owl is the tale of the French chiropodist, who exhibited 

 outside his establishment a living specimen of the Eagle 

 owl (Bubo maximus), said to be expert in extracting corns. 

 When the sufferer to be operated upon was seated the owl 

 was brought in and taken behind a screen, the foot of the 

 patient was thrust through an aperture in the said screen, 

 the wings of the bird were felt to flutter around the 

 limb, and the operation of extracting the com commenced ; 

 the com being removed, the owl was again restored to its 

 former position outside, and the patient departed in the 

 full belief of the extraordinary power and skill of Bubo 

 maxiimis. 



GREAT EAGLE OWL. 



I occasionally receive an evening visit from a friend who 

 has a great horror at being thought nervous. On one of 

 these visits I propose, after dark, to take a walk round the 

 Gardens, and he agrees to accompany me, remarking, at 

 the same time, that it is very dark, but supposes I know 

 my way about, and that there can be no danger on that 

 account. We have not gone far before he begins to 

 speak about the possibility of some of the animals 

 haviiig escaped, and, probably, he thinks every bush or 

 shrub is one, or conceals one. He expresses his opinion 

 about the folly of being unarmed in such a place, when 

 suddenly a most unearthly sound assails his ears ; it is as 

 a loud hollow double hoot appearing above, below, and 

 behind all at once. He grasps my arm and instantly ex- 

 claims. What is that ? I reply to his question that it's only 



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