ioImIic 
>■) 
he suddenly spread his Mngs and descended smoothly nnd 
swiftly to a spot about 15 feet off whence he rose almost 
imrsediately, evidently without any booty, and returned to 
his former perch# A aioaeat later hearooped again, this 
time^to a ^ot a fes" yards further off where he was lost 
to sight anaoiig some withered ferns* nearly a full elnute 
passed before he reappeared, when he flew off through the 
mtamp Into a thicket of young pines. Whether or no he 
captured anything we could not see. We did.not follow him 
at once but returned to the faamv-house* 
At 3 P# M* we went again to the ”aun**, accompanied 
by Mr, S, 0, Dexter of Concord \ihoia I had notified by tele¬ 
phone of the discovery of the Cwl. We all felt doubtful 
about finding him again but when we came in sight of the 
apple tree there he was back on his old perch and once more 
enjfoylng a dose in the warm afternoon sunlight# Wal^plng 
slowly in single file we approach 3d within 12 or 15 feet 
withour seeming to alarm him. It was the chance of a life¬ 
time for a perfect photograph, but no camera was available. 
He wao now looking at us fixedly with wide-open eyes, but 
apparently vrith more of curioclty than fear. Presently I 
» 
left my friends arid,circllE^ around through the swamp, 
walked quietly up to the Owl from behind. Slowly stretching 
up my arm until my fingers were within three inches of the 
bird, I made a quick clutch at him. It was accurately 
aimed and without question iwuld have resulted in his cap- 
« 
ture, had he not opened his broad icings just as my fingers 
^2. 
