OUR HOME BIRDS. 
249 
have the appearance from below of a cat asleep. The 
eggs are nearly as large as those of a young pullet, 
but round and perfectly white. 
“ ‘ On approaching one of these birds, its gesticu- 
lations are seen to be of a very extraordinary nature. 
Its position, which is generally erect, is immediately 
changed. It lowers its head and inclines its body 
to watch the motions of the person beneath ; throws 
forward the lateral feathers of its head, which thus 
has the appearance of being surrounded by a broad 
ruff ; looks toward him as if half blind, and moves 
its head to and fro in so extraordinary a manner as 
almost to induce a person to fancy that part dislo- 
cated from its body. It follows all the motions of 
the intruder with its eyes, and, should it suspect any 
treacherous intention, flies off to a short distance, 
alighting with its back to the person, and immedi- 
ately turning about with a single jump to recom- 
mence its scrutiny..’ ” 
“ I shouldn’t like to be stared at in that way by 
an owl,” observed Malcolm ; and Miss Harson quite 
agreed with him. 
“ These birds seem to need spectacles in the day- 
time,” she continued, “ judging from the funny mis- 
takes they make; and Audubon speaks of seeing one 
alight on the back of a cow, which it left so suddenly 
when the animal moved as to show that it had evi- 
