162 ADVENTURES OF THREE YOUNG NATURALISTS. 



44 It was a pretty long range," said Paul, " but some stray shot may 

 have struck the bird." 



44 Stray shot," said Harry, "I never miss! I shot right on time, and 

 although he kept on I am sure he went down dead, over by that palmetto 

 tree, and Ponce shall find him. 



44 Let me look at the feather," said the Professor. As he glanced at it 

 h* asked, 44 What kind of bird did you say you shot at ? " 



44 Why, sir, a quail to be sure," answered Harry. 



44 Well, this feather grew on an owl, and as it is highly improbable that 

 a quail was carrying it about with him, a more plausible explanation is that 

 you picked up a feather accidentally dropped by an owl." 



As this explanation was greeted by shouts of laughter from the three 

 boys, Harry felt a little chagrined, but quickly recovering he said ; 



44 The feather is red like that of a quail." 



44 Yes, it is red," said the Professor, 44 too red for that of the quail, 

 but there are other differences. The barbs are longer and terminate in a 

 flowery fringe and not so abruptly as in that of the quail. This fringing to the 

 edge of owls' feathers enables them to move with an absolutely noiseless 

 flight, whereas the quail, as we have just seen demonstrated, move on the wing 

 with a whirr which is very conspicuous." 



44 What is the reason for the difference in the flight of the two species ? " 

 asked Paul. 



44 There are anatomical reasons which I will explain to you at some fut- 

 ure time when we get an owl to dissect," answered his instructor. 



Ponce, during this conversation, had found the fifth quail, and this being 

 transferred to Paul's collecting basket, the four companions now proceeded 

 across the level pine woods, leaving the quail to get together their scattered 

 forces as best they might. 



44 How scarce birds are now," said Harry. 4t Just as I shot the snake 

 the trees were full of th?m, and now there is not one in sight." 



44 If I mistake not, by the sounds I have just heard, you will not have 

 cause to complain much longer," said the Professor. 



At this moment a harsh 44 Cach-cach," was heard in the high pine 

 trees over head. 



44 Brown-headed nuthatches," said the Professor, looking upward and 

 drawing his collecting gun out of its sheath as it hung on his side, he 

 stepped backwards, took a quick shot, and a little brown-headed bird having 

 a short tail, fell to the ground. At the repDrt of his gun, a louder and 



