224 THE great horned owl 
for venturing abroad in the sunlight is generally a day 
of torture, for the commotion is certain to be con- 
tinued by succeeding forces of assailants till evening 
settles down and his dazzled eyes resume their strange 
nocturnal discernment. Then, with ear-like tufts 
erect, his attitude becomes alert and watchful, and 
the predatory nature that makes him an object of 
aversion throughout the woods is once more aroused. 
This is one of the largest and strongest of the 
Owls, and his bad reputation has unjustly tainted the 
family name. He preys indiscriminately on birds 
and small animals, and has been known to feast on a 
diminutive member of his own race. The capacity of 
his throat is astonishing, for a specimen taken in the 
vicinity of Toronto was found to have swallowed a 
half-grown Muskrat. Pigeons and Chickens are 
frequent victims, but he pounces indiscriminately 
on all the feathered tribe that roost in the woods at 
night. Of late years all the birds of the forest have 
had a fair trial by impartial jurors, and, wherever 
possible, the benefit of the doubt has been given in 
their favour. Almost all the Owls and most of the 
Hawks, formerly outlawed and liable to be killed at 
sight, have been pronounced friendly and beneficial. 
They have been found to feed entirely on injurious 
insects and vermin. But the reputation of the 
Great Horned Owl has been blackened deeper and 
deeper with every investigation. Every night his 
