My Little Oivls. 
227 
deprive her of the delicacy, would hand it back and so the 
little comedy would go on for quite a long time, neither being 
able to persuade the other to retain and swallow the gift. I 
imagine it is very unusual for a hen bird to bring food fo <he 
cock in the way Mrs. Peeps used to do — in fact I do not think 
I have ever heard or read of another instance. Female Fal- 
cons will bruig food to the nest for the tiercel to distribute 
among the young, but that is a different matter. 
Peeps had another very quaint custom at this time: 
lie would make a long and elaborate pretence of feeding an im- 
aginary iH'ood. Taking a piece of meat he would Ily with it to 
the nest-box, his face meanwhile assuming the benevolent and 
somewhat inane expression I had noticed during his court- 
ship. Once inside he would begin a rapid clucking or chat- 
tering noise, Avalking slowly about and occasionally lowering his 
head as if to place the morsel he was carrying in the open 
mouth of a hungry Owlet. If I put my hand near him when 
he was doing this he would often, in the absence of a more 
deservmg recipient, come and push the meat gently into it — 
he who a few months previously had been ready to fly at me 
with beak and claw if I so much as looked in the direction of 
his larder. But Peeps' hopes and mine were doomed to dis- 
appointment, for the breeding season passed without any eggs 
making their appearance and there was nothing for it but to 
wait for another year. Peeps and his mate remained on fairly 
aflectionate terms during the summer and autumn, although 
there were occasional quarrels between them. Mrs. Peeps was 
rather fond of pouncing mischievously on her lord when he was 
playing on the carpet and although I do not think she meant 
to hurt him, her frivolity annoyed him and he retaliated by 
driving her off I'ather spitefully if he found her occupying one 
of the higher perches in the room. The pair ceased, also, to 
share their food together, each having a separate larder, which 
the other respected. A recognition of the property or terri- 
tory of a friend or rival, not wholly based on fear of superior 
strength, is not, as has been stated by some people, unknown 
among the lower animals. My owls certainly showed it and 
it may sometimes be observed with dogs — especially those whicli 
are only semi-domesticated— as well as with male fallow-deer. 
To be continued. 
