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 
