A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS 
657 
phase. In the same nest some may be gray and others red. 
This difference is so great that one would readily take speci- 
mens of the different colors to be birds of different species, 
yet this does not depend upon age, sex, or season. It is from 
six and one-half to ten inches long, with an extent of wings 
of from twenty to twenty-four inches. 
“ The ear tufts are large and conspicuous, and a stripe is 
to be seen along each side of the back, and a blackish line 
along the shafts of the feathers. It is often found in buildings, 
but more frequently in hollow trees, especially in old apple 
trees. 
“ The low, wailing, moaning notes of this Owl are not 
loud, but their character enables them to be heard a considerable 
distance ; they suggest, without resembling, those of the com- 
mon dove. They may be heard at any time from dusk to dawn, 
and on rare occasions in the daytime.” — Fisher. 
THE EARLY OWL 
An Owl once lived in a hollow tree, 
And he was as wise as wise could be. 
The branch of learning he didn’t know 
Could scarce on the tree of knowledge grow; 
He knew the tree from branch to root, 
And an Owl like that can afford to hoot. 
And he hooted until, alas ! one day 
He chanced to hear, in a casual way, 
An insignificant little bird 
Make use of a term he had never heard. 
He was flying to bed in the dawning light 
When he heard her singing with all her might : 
“ Hurray ! hurray ! for the early worm ! ” 
“ Dear me,” said the Owl, “ what a singular term ! 
I would look it up if it weren’t so late. 
I must rise at dusk to investigate. 
Early to bed and early to rise 
Makes an Owl healthy, and stealthy, and wise ! ” 
So he slept like an honest Owl all day, 
And rose in the early twilight gray, 
And went to work in the dusky light 
To look for the early worm at night. 
He searched the country for miles around, 
But the early worm was not to be found; 
So he went to bed in the dawning light 
And looked for the “ worm ” again next night. 
