222 
THE RAT. 
any other small bird that has dashed out of the bush in the 
night, from having been disturbed by some rat or weasel ; 
or that they pick up the remnants of a little chicken which 
has been destroyed by one of these animals. Then let us 
place them in one scale along with all the fish Mr. Water- 
ton's bird may have caught. After that, let us put into the 
other scale all the mice the ninety-nine have destroyed ! 
What then would be the verdict which reason and justice 
would compel us to return ? Why, that in addition to all 
the fish and small birds they would like to indulge in, they 
ought to have gold collars with brilliant appendages hung 
around their necks, for the immense services they have 
rendered to farmers. But they need no such gaudy trap- 
pings ; all they require is mere protection through the day 
from their common enemy and persecutor — man ! and then 
they will render him infinitely greater services than they 
have hitherto done. Thus in the night, if your wife or family 
should hear them hoot, instead of being alarmed, let them 
feel satisfied that the owl is that good and faithful servant 
who is up and protecting his master s property while the 
master is sleeping. We know that the apparent size and 
grotesque appearance of its head, and its being a bird of the 
night, and foolishly associated with all kinds of enchant- 
ments, has rendered the owl odious in the eyes of many ! 
But then we should bear in mind that this antipathy is 
merely the result of ignorance and superstition. God has 
made him a bird of the night, not for the purpose of aiding 
incantations, but to watch the mouse tribe, so as to prevent 
them increasing till they eat man out of house and home. 
If those who entertain a foolish prejudice against the owl 
saw it divested of its feathers, they would find that the head, 
instead of being like a turnip, is no larger than that of a 
chicken, and very similar in shape. It is the feathers only 
that make it appear so large and strange in its formation. 
Were I a farmer, I should be as particular about my owls as 
any one thing on the farm. I should give every one in my 
employ notice, that if they wilfully injured or molested any 
of them, that instant they would be discharged ; and as to 
strangers, I would prosecute them for trespass. 
Whatever praises you may bestow on a good cat for 
in-door services, may with equal justice be bestowed upon 
