212 



NATURE STUDY IN SCHOOLS. 



tone in which disgust was apparent, " It is nothing but a common barred 

 owl and not worth shooting, we had better throw it away." 



"No," said Paul, "don't hrow it away. This must be the Florida 

 barred owl about which Professor Hall told us. Yes," he continued, " this 

 is the sub-species, for the toes are quite destitute of feathers." So the owl 

 was transferred to his collecting basket, and in a few moments the boys found 

 themselves in the open piny woods. 



" Here is where I shot at the deer," remarked Paul. " I wish I could 

 do it over again," he once more said regretfully. 



" I don't see why after knocking them all down, we did not get some 

 of them," said Harry. "I'm sure I gave them both of my charges." 



" I don't think either of us hurt them much," replied his companion, 

 smiling at the recollection of how Harry gave them both charges. "But I 

 can't boast much about my shot this time. There is Ponce over there. Let 

 us get our things and try and find the Professor and George." 



Accordingly equipping themselves, with the articles laid one side, much 

 to the delight of the dog, who now considered herself released, the boys turned 

 to the right and proceeded along 'the cypress swamp. They had not gone far 

 when they perceived their friends advancing to meet them. Mutual expla- 

 nations and relation of adventures followed. It transpired that George and 

 Professor Hall had procured about a dozen birds, among which were some fish 

 crows, known, as George, who was evidently freshly posted, eagerly explained 

 by the long, slender middle toe, which was equal in length to the tarsus, 

 not shorter than it, as in the common species. 



Our party then proceeded campward, gathering a few more birds as they 

 went, arriving in time for a good afternoon's work. 



Fig. 97. 



Young Quail. 



