My TAtlle Owls. 
225 
ided llicin with a box which I thought might suit their 
tasto. Tlioy were much interested and spent a good deal of 
time inside, frequently using it as a larder, but in other res- 
pects being remarkably careful to keep it clean; this sur- 
prised me, for birds of prey are notoriously indifferent in 
matters of sanitation . 
For several weeks nothing happened to mar the peace 
and happiness of the newly-wedded pair; then one day it oc- 
curred to me to start imitating the call of a little Owl to see 
what the effect might be. After a few moments Mrs. Peeps, 
ui a state of great excitement, began to answer. Peeps, 
tiiinkmg tliat she wanted him, flew to her at once full of tender 
endearments and caresses. But Mrs. Peeps called on. Poor 
Peeps began to look puzzled and worried; his wife had called 
him and he had come as usual — why then did she remain im- 
satisfied '? A moment later and the awful truth had dawned 
on him— she wanted someone else ! In a flash his whole de- 
meanour changed and he flew at her in a perfect fury, while 
she, as if aware of her guilt, made no attempt at retaliation, 
but only tried to dodge his avenging claws. Only with diffi- 
culty did I succeed in pacifying the outraged husband and 
healing the breach I had so unexi>ectedly caused in his do- 
mestic happiness. It seemed a shame, but I could not resist 
trying the experiment on one or two subsequent occasions 
and it always had the same I'esult. At his mate's first call 
Peeps hurried up and lavished every attention upon her; then, 
fmding that she remained unsatisfied, he lost his temper and 
went for her in a paroxysm of rage. Finally she grew cun- 
ning and discovered a way of attempting to satisfy her feminine 
curiosity (let us hope it was nothing worse) and at the same 
time of avoiding her husband's vengeance. As soon as Peeps 
had flown to her she would begin retui'ning his caresses, in- 
terspersing each kiss with a call to me. Peeps was so far 
mollified by the assurance he received of his wife's affection, 
that he forbore to attack her, but he was obviously unhappy 
until the calling ceased. 
Not long afterwards I received a further proof of 
Peeps* extraordinary jealousy. I had moved the Owls to a 
new room where for a time they were extremely happy and on 
the best of terms with each other. But one evening* when 
