1 78 Ways of Wood Folk. 



a deer : get out of sight, and to leeward, if possible ; 

 then take every advantage of bush and rock and 

 beach-grass to creep within range, taking care to 

 advance only when his eyes are turned away, and 

 remembering that his ears are keen enough to de- 

 tect the passing of a mouse in the grass from an 

 incredible distance. 



Sometimes the crows find one of these snowy visi- 

 tors on the beach, and make a great fuss and racket, 

 as they always do when an owl is in sight. At such 

 times he takes his stand under a bank, or in the lee 

 of a rock, where the crows cannot trouble him from 

 behind, and sits watching them fiercely. Woe be to 

 the one that ventures too near. A plunge, a grip of 

 his claw, a weak caw, and it 's all over. That seems 

 to double the crows' frenzy — and that is the one 

 moment when you can approach rapidly from behind. 

 But you must drop flat when the crows perceive you ; 

 for the owl is sure to take a look around for the cause 

 of their sudden alarm. If he sees nothing suspicious 

 he will return to his shelter to eat his crow, or just to 

 rest his sensitive ears after all the pother. A quarter- 

 mile away the crows sit silent, watching you and him. 



And now a curious thing happens. The crows, 

 that a moment ago were clamoring angrily about 

 their enemy, watch with a kind of intense interest as 

 you creep towards him. Half way to the rock behind 



