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Birds, Vol. III, No 1, January 1898

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<h2>THE SHORT-EARED OWL.</h2> <hr style="width: 15%;" /> “I think,” said Bobbie, looking over the present number of Birds, “that the Owl, instead of the Red-eyed Vireo, ought to be called ‘The Preacher.’” “Why?” said his mamma, always pleased at her boy’s fancy. “Because the Owl looks so wise—and—solemn!” said Bobby. Mamma laughed. “He does look solemn,” she agreed, “but about his wisdom I am not so certain. Turn to the text and let us see what he does say about himself.” “Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo!” “That doesn’t sound very wise,” said Bobbie, reading aloud, “though Mr. Shouter’s preaching sounds like that to me sometimes.” “Does it?” replied mamma, suppressing a smile, “well, go on and see what else he says.” “I’m not a Screech Owl, nor a Barn Owl, nor a Great Horned Owl, nor a Long-eared Owl, though I am related to each of them. Mr. Screech Owl thinks he is a singer, and so does Mr. Horned Owl. Between you and me, I think both their songs most doleful ditties. One gentleman says Mr. Horned Owl hoots in B flat, another says in F sharp, and another in A flat. I must confess it all sounds very flat to me. I don’t pretend to sing at all. Sometimes I feel like saying something, just to hear the sound of my own voice, and then I shout ‘Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo!’ as loud as I can. If there are little Owls in the nest, and anything approaches them, I give a shrill, hollow cry, at the same time snapping my bill spitefully. “I am sometimes called the Marsh Owl, because I frequent the grassy marshes instead of the woods. I don’t confine myself to prowling around only in the night time, like some Owls I know, but you will see me about also on dark days, and sometimes even when the sun is shining. “My eyes, you see, are round and yellow just like a cat’s, shining in the dark like his. Indeed there is a good deal of the cat in my nature. When stealing on my prey I go about it just as stealthily as he does. Like him I catch mice too, but I also like beetles, gophers, and all sorts of little water birds. “I have only two eyes, but I have two sets of eyelids. One I draw over my eyes in the day time, a thin sort of curtain to keep out the light, and the other a heavy curtain which I pull down when I go to sleep. I’m going to sleep now. Good night! or, rather, good morning!” <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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