OUR HOME BIRDS. 
247 
knowledged that Mistress Puss had only got her just 
deserts. 
“ In order to permit it to use these claws and beak 
on its prey with full effect,” continued Miss Harson, 
“ the owl is furnished, as you see, with a pair of huge 
eyes ; so that if the mouse were to put to the owl the 
question that Little Eed Ridinghood so innocently 
put to the wicked wolf, 4 Why have you such great 
eyes?’ the answer and result would be exactly the 
same, ‘ To see you the better, my dear/ followed by 
immediate proof. Round the eyes is a large radi- 
ating circle, or shallow funnel, of feathers, the use 
of which is said to be to collect the rays of light and 
throw them upon the eye ; which is a very necessary 
arrangement for dark nights. 
“ An owl that was kept in a room for some time is 
described as keeping its eyelids half shut, ‘ or slowly 
and alternately opening and shutting, as if suffering 
from the glare of day; but no sooner w 7 as the sun 
set than its whole appearance became lively and ani- 
mated ; its full and globular eyes shone like those of 
a cat ; and it often lowered its head in the manner 
of a cock preparing to fight, moving it from side to 
side, and also vertically, as if reconnoitring you with 
great sharpness. In flying through the room it shifted 
from place to place with the silence of a spirit, the 
plumage of its wings being so extremely fine and soft 
