BRITISH BIRDS. 
43 
OF THE OWL. 
The Owl is diftinguilhed among birds of the ra- 
pacious kind by peculiar and ftriking characters : 
Its outward appearance is not more fmgular than 
are its habits and difpofitions ; unable to bear the 
brighter light of the fun, the Owl retires to fome 
obfcure retreat, where it paffes the day in filence 
and obfcurity, but at the approach of evening, 
when all nature is defirous of repofe, and the fnial- 
ler animals, which are its principal food, are feek- 
ing their neftling places, the Owl comes forth from 
its lurking holes in quell of its prey. Its eyes are 
admirably adapted for this purpofe, being fo form- 
ed as to diftinguifh obje&s with greater facility in 
the dulk than in broad day-light : Its flight is ra- 
pid and filent during its noClurnal excurfions, and 
it is then known only by its frightful and reiter- 
ated cries, with which it interrupts the filence of 
the night. During the day, the Owl is feldom 
feen ; but if forced from his retreat, his flight is 
broken and interrupted, and he is fometimes at- 
tended by numbers of fmall birds of various kinds, 
who, feeing his embarralfment, purfue him with 
inceffant cries, and torment him with their move- 
ments; the Jay, the Thrufh, the Blackbird, the 
Redbreall, and the Titmoufe all affemble to hur- 
ry and perplex him. During all this, the Owl 
remains perched upon the branches of a tree, and 
anfwers them only with aukward and infignifi- 
