WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 
history of this ill-omened owl, the misfortunes of the pos- 
sessor were attributed to this unfortunate Scotopelia pdi. 
Another instance of the credulity of our race respecting 
the owl is the tale of the French chiropodist, who exhibited 
outside his establishment a living specimen of the Eagle 
owl {Bubo maximus), said to be expert in extracting corns. 
When the sufferer to be operated upon was seated the owl 
was brought in and taken behind a screen, the foot of the 
patient was thrust through an aperture in the said screen, 
the wings of the bird were felt to flutter around the 
limb, and the operation of extracting the corn commenced ; 
the corn being removed, the owl was again restored to its 
former position outside, and the patient departed in the 
full belief of the extraordinary power and skill of Bubo 
maximus. 
GREAT EAGLE OWL. 
I occasionally receive an evening visit from a friend who 
has a great horror at being thought nervous. On one of 
these visits I propose, after dark, to take a walk round the 
Gardens, and he agrees to accompany me, remarking, at 
the same time, that it is very dark, but supposes I know 
my way about, and that there can be no danger on that 
account. We have not gone far before he begins to 
speak about the possibility of some of the animals 
having escaped, and, probably, he thinks every bush or 
shrub is one, or conceals one. He expresses his opinion 
about the folly of being unarmed in such a place, when 
suddenly a most unearthly sound assails his ears ; it is as 
a loud hollow double hoot appearing above, below, and 
behind all at once. He grasps my arm and instantly ex- 
claims, What is that ? I reply to his question that it’s only 
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