THE OWL. 
91 
And he would be very unwise to venture 
out while the forest was astir. The birds 
would fall upon him, with one accord, and 
treat him with the utmost indignity. Even 
the smallest and most feeble would peck at 
him, and flap its wings in his face. They 
know very well the owl cannot hurt them ; 
for he is too dizzy with the light to do any- 
thing but roll his head round and round, and 
stare, rnth. his great eyes, in a blind and stupid 
manner. 
The worst of his enemies is the blue jay — 
a chattering noisy bird, with a loud squalling 
voice, that is constantly heard in the forest. 
The wild deer are frightened when they hear 
it, and run away, to the great annoyance of 
the hunter ; so that the hunter is a bitter 
enemy to the blue jay, and shoots him when- 
ever he can find him. 
The jay is both ill-natured and impertinent 
in his conduct to the owl. He is highly de- 
lighted if he can find out the place where he is 
hiding himself in the day-time, for then he can 
play off a few tricks upon him, without any 
fear of the consequences. So, no sooner has 
he caught sight of a round face, and a pair of 
