My Little Oivls. 
]o7 
ilu'cw u|) the entire contents of his stomach as soon as the 
lapsiile began to dissolve. It was not till the beg-inning of 
wintei' that lie eutiicly re(-()\-('r('(I after being kept foi' some 
weeks in a wai'in looin at an vxvn tcnijterature witii a lire 
going niglit and da\'. 
l!ul his ailniont. while it lasted, was in reality more 
distressing to nie than to him, as it never affected cither his 
spirits or his general health. 
After a time he was allowed to lly abont the room, 
wiiieh was a gieat joy to him. He was as inquisitive and 
[liayful as a monkey, though never in the least destructive. 
Kveiy oljject had to be thoroughly examined and every corner 
carefully e.xjilored. Small articles were picked up in his foot, 
Parrot-fashion, and gently nibl)led to test their consistency. 
A quill pen oi' a large feather was a source of much amusement 
antl Peeps would play mouse with it, pouncing on it from a 
distance and then Inting' the captured prey. 
Another kind of play in which he indulged was com- 
mon to all tile little owls I have kept. Selecting a piece of 
carpet or hearthrug;' (he was very partic'ular about the texture 
of his jilaygronndj, he would ruffle his feathers, lower his 
wings, and make one or two little runs forward in a stooping 
position; then he Avould throw himself on his breast and with 
feather.s still erect and whigs .spi'ead, push himself along the 
ground with his feet, stopping occasionally to .seize a bit of 
eaipet in his beak and shake it vigorously. After a few 
seconds he would g'ct up and make another rush in a difl'erent 
direction, or perhaps pounce on an imaginary mouse, and 
begin the shovhig and worrying game over again. Very of- 
ten he would keep his whigs .spread nearly the whole time he 
was playing, the effect being very quaint and pretty. 
When in exceptionally high spirits Peeps would lly 
baekwai'ds and forwards across the I'oom, making stoops at 
my head as he passed, but on these occasions he never actually 
touched me with his claws— it was all in pure fun. 
I have already noticed that Peeps was very observant, 
and, as all Owls do, he watched people's faces carefully.. A 
most amusing thing occurred one evening when 1 happened to 
put on a pair of spectacles while reading a book— I did not 
at that time often have to wear g^lasses, and it chanced to be 
