6 WOLF'S WILD ANIMALS. 



heard with fear and aversion. Yet no creature is more harmless. Happily, in these 

 enlightened days, much of the superstition connected with these feathered creatures is 

 disappearing, and they are regarded more in their true light of useful scavengers that 

 destroy much vermin, and free the fields from many distructive pests, than as heralds 

 of misfortune and woe. The early writers and poets associated our wise-looking 

 friends with disasters of some sort, but later ones, more in keeping with the spirit of 

 their times, have sung of them as birds of the night in harmony with other creatures. 

 Thus Coleridge, in an opening chorus in Christabel, says — 



" 'Tis the middle of the night by the Castle clock, 

 And the Owls have awakened the crowing cock. 

 Tu-whit ! Tu-whoo ! — 

 And hark again ! the crowing cock, 

 How drowsily he crew." 



Many are the species of owls scattered over the world, from the great Grand 

 Duke, or Eagle Owl of Europe, to the little creatures of other lands hardly larger 

 than sparrows. Some, contrary to the generally received idea, and also contrary to 

 the usual habits of these birds, are accustomed to seek their prey, and be much 

 abroad, when the sun is high in the heavens ; so that we have two classes of these 

 animals — day and night owls. The Polar regions possess their own peculiar species 

 of this family, which is appropriately robed in pure white, and so assimilated with the 

 snow and ice that covers all the face of the land in those cheerless districts, that it is 

 easily able to conceal itself from its own enemies as well as to approach unseen any 

 animal it may select for its prey. Nature is ever considerate in her dealings with all 

 creatures, and places them in such localities as are most harmonious to their appear- 

 ance and habits, never omitting the slightest thing that may be conducive to their 

 comfort, happiness or protection. The great owls of more southern latitudes are 

 usually provided with a mottled dress, and some have long tufts over the ears, which, 

 when erected beyond the huge staring eyes, give to the bird a very comical aspect. 



The Owl is fond of passing the day amid the dense foliage of evergreen and 

 other trees, and at times (if it is a large one) in the cavity of some half-decayed 

 trunk, where it dozes away the hours of sun-light, or looks in stupid amazement upon 

 anything that may intrude too near its place of refuge. Many a frolicksome little 

 squirrel, leaping lightly over the bending twigs, or running up the gnarled trunk, 

 stops for a moment, and, sitting gravely upon his haunches, with the tail curved over 



