11 
which he describes. An owl is an owl all the world over,, 
whether under the influence of Momus, Venus, or Diana. 
When farmers complain that the barn owl destroys the 
. eggs of their pigeons, they lay the saddle on the wrong horse. 
They ought to put it on the rat. Formerly, I could get very few 
young pigeons till the rats were excluded effectually from the 
dovecot. Since that took place, it has produced a great abund¬ 
ance every year, though the barn owls frequent it, and are en¬ 
couraged all around it. The barn owl merely resorts to it for 
repose and concealment. If it were really an enemy to the 
dovecot, we should see the pigeons in commotion as soon as it 
begins its evening flight ! But the pigeons heed it not; where¬ 
as, if the sparrowhawk or hobby should make its appearance the 
community would be up at once ; proof sufficient that the barn 
owl is not looked upon as a bad, or even a suspicious, character by 
the inhabitants of the dovecot. 
* * * « * 
I am amply repaid for the pains I have taken to protect and 
encourage the barn owl; it pays me a hundred-fold by the 
enormous quantity of mice which it destroys throughout the 
year. The servants now no longer wish to persecute it. Often, 
on a tine summer’s evening, with deiight I see the villagers 
loitering under the sycamore trees longer than they would other¬ 
wise do, to have a peep at the barn owl as it leaves the ivy- 
mantled tower : fortunate for it, if, in lieu of exposing itself to 
danger by mixing with the world at large, it only knew the 
advantage of passing its nights at home ; for. here 
No birds that haunt nay valley free 
To slaughter I condemn : 
Taught bv the Power that pities me. 
I learn to pity them. 
