224 THE GREAT HORNED OWL 



for venturing abroad in the sunlight is generally a day 

 of torture, for the commotion is certain to be con- 

 tinued by succeeding forces of assailants till evening 

 settles down and his dazzled eyes resume their strange 

 nocturnal discernment. Then, with ear-like tufts 

 erect, his attitude becomes alert and watchful, and 

 the predatory nature that makes him an object of 

 aversion throughout the woods is once more aroused. 

 This is one of the largest and strongest of the 

 Owls, and his bad reputation has unjustly tainted the 

 family name. He preys indiscriminately on birds 

 and small animals, and has been known to feast on a 

 diminutive member of his own race. The capacity of 

 his throat is astonishing, for a specimen taken in the 

 vicinity of Toronto was found to have swallowed a 

 half-grown Muskrat. Pigeons and Chickens are 

 frequent victims, but he pounces indiscriminately 

 on all the feathered tribe that roost in the woods at 

 night. Of late years all the birds of the forest have 

 had a fair trial by impartial jurors, and, wherever 

 possible, the benefit of the doubt has been given in 

 their favour. Almost all the Owls and most of the 

 Hawks, formerly outlawed and liable to be killed at 

 sight, have been pronounced friendly and beneficial. 

 They have been found to feed entirely on injurious 

 insects and vermin. But the reputation of the 

 Great Horned Owl has been blackened deeper and 

 deeper with every investigation. Every night his 



