Round the Countryside-9
ERIC PARKER : Owls '
Owls have always held a fascination. They hunt by night and utter unearthly cries. You may see them sitting about in daylight, or watch their flight by ' owl light '-dusk. They look solemn and wise ; an owl was the emblem of Minerva, goddess of wisdom.
They have been associated with witches. The so-called ' screech owl', which was probably the barn owl that 'often screams horribly as it flies along', was superctitiously believed to haunt the windows of the dying. But you country boys and girls may live too near a wood to be scared by an owl.
Owls bolt their food, and, after the manner of hawks, cast up the bones, fur or feathers of their prey. Their plumage is so soft that their flight is silent. They have large eyes to collect every ray of light, and big concave ears to hear the smallest sound.
Mr. Eric Parker will describe the appearance and habits of the four native British owls : the barn, or white owl, the brown or tawny owl, the long-eared owl, and the short-eared owl. And he will tell you how the little owl was introduced into this country from Holland, and with what result.