236 BRITISH AND EUROPEAN BIRDS. 



The Cuckoo, as songster, would also essay ; 



" Cuckoo, Cuckoo,*' still " Cuckoo " was heard through 



the day. 

 In impertinent boldness appear'd the Tomtit, — 

 His notes little more than a chirp or a chit. 

 When laughter arose — " Give me sunflower seed/' 

 He cried, " and I'll sing with the lark of the mead." 

 The saucy House-Sparrow affected a song ; 

 But dissonant noises to sparrows belong. 



fur in large pellets similar to those of the Great-owl. Eggs four 

 or more, whitish. Breeds in old trees, or even barns. The young 

 wholly white, and the flesh then said to be good. Montagu in- 

 forms us that it never hoots ; I think this is a mistake. 



"The awaken'd owl 



Majestic, slow, on sounding wing sails by, 



And rous'd to active life, enjoys the hour 



That gives his winking eye-lids leave to rest, 



While bright his eye, dim in day's dazzling light, 



Now into distance shoots its beams, and guides 



The unweildy spoiler to his creeping prey, 



Which having seiz'd, again on murmuring wing 



He cleaves the tranquil air, and to his nest 



Proudly bears home the feast he toil'd to gain ; 



Then from the bosom of some thick wove tree, 



Breathes in dull note his votive strain to night, 



Friend of his daring, season of his joy." 



Mrs. O pie's Evening Walk at Cromer. 

 Anthology, vol. ii. 



The Brachyotos, Short-eared Owl, Mouse-Hawk, Woodcock- 

 Owl, or Hawk-Owl, is about fifteen inches long ; it is distin- 

 guished from the rest of the tribe by the smallness of its head ; 

 on the top of the head above each eye is a tuft of feathers, 



