16 



THE BARN OWL. 



The barn owl may be heard shrieking here perpe- 

 petually on the portico, and in the large sycamore 

 trees near the house. It shrieks equally when the 

 moon shines and when the night is rough and 

 cloudy ; and he who takes an interest in it may 

 here see the barn owl the night through when there 

 is a moon ; and he may hear it shriek when perch- 

 ing on the trees, or when it is on wing. He may 

 see it and hear it shriek, w^ithin a few yards of him, 

 long before dark ; and again, often after daybreak, 

 before it takes its final departure to its wonted 

 resting-place. 



I am amply repaid for the pains I have taken to 

 protect and encourage the barn owl ; it pays me a 

 hundred-fold by the enormous quantity of mice 

 which it destroys throughout the year. The ser- 

 vants now no longer wish to persecute it. Often, 

 on a fine summer s evening, with delight I see the 

 villagers loitering under the sycamore trees longer 

 than they would otherwise do, to have a peep at the 

 barn owl, as it leaves the ivy-mantled tower : for- 

 tunate for it, if, in lieu of exposing itself to danger, 

 by mixing with the world at large? it only knew the 

 advantage of passing its nights at home ; for here 



No birds that haunt my valley free 



To slaughter I condemn ; 

 Taught by the Power that pities me, 



I learn to pity them." 



