94 
THE OWL. 
in the stillness of night, gives warning tua.fc 
the enemy is abroad ; and they make all the 
haste they can to get out of his way. 
The voice of the owl sounds strange and 
unearthly to other ears than those of the birds. 
At nightfall, when the dews are dropping 
on the forest trees, and the fire -flies flitting 
to and fro, the traveller is startled by, what 
seems to him, a burst of shrieking laughter. 
And when he is preparing to cook his supper, 
traveller fashion, on a wooden spit, his ears 
are greeted with the same unearthly sound. 
Presently the mystery is explained ; for he 
sees an owl, with brown and white plumage, 
sitting within a few yards of him, and staring 
at him with an air of profound curiosity, and 
as if he would have no objection to join in the 
repast. 
The traveller would know at a glance who 
his visitor was. The stripes of dark brown, 
alternating with those of a lighter colour, show 
that he is the barred owl ; and a very common 
bird in these forests. 
He and his companions make a terrible din 
with their shrieking laughter ; and if it is 
going to be rain, they call to each other, as if 
