AN EVENING REVELLER 
221 
the bark, but the strangely human-like eyes of the 
Screech-owl do not discern them* This silent, 
sleepy stupidity is his salvation, for he is helpless 
against the attacks of small birds when blinded by the 
glare of day* It also saves him from the marauding 
bipeds who pass with guns and look at him again 
and again without seeing him* 
The Screech-owl makes a strange and interesting 
departure from the almost universal rule of sameness 
in species* Almost all other birds adhere strictly to 
the fashions in style and colouring* Almost every 
feather has its distinguishing marks and shades, and 
these are repeated with wonderful fidelity* Males 
may have distinctive markings and colourings, but 
males of the same species are almost invariably alike* 
The same is true of the females and of the young, and 
when changes occur with the seasons all adhere 
strictly to the prevailing modes* That accurate same- 
ness in every species would be regarded as wonderful 
were it not an almost universal rule. But the Screech- 
owl has the rare distinction of being an exception* 
Grey and brown specimens differ so widely that they 
would naturally be regarded as distinct species, but 
they are of the same bone and flesh* They do not change 
with the seasons, for a brown or a grey bird, male or 
female, retains its colour through life* Young of both 
colours are found in the same brood* This may 
represent a formative stage in the development of a 
