She will
take up her tiny owlet in her claws and carry him away, if she fancies
that any danger is near; and she will not leave him, even to save her
own life.
It has been supposed that an owl is unable to see in the daytime, but
probably this is not true. He can see better at dusk than we can, but
when it is really dark he cannot see at all. He hunts at night, because
rats and mice do not often venture out in the daytime.
Unless he is free, an owl is miserable. It is cruel to keep him caged,
because it makes him ill and unhappy. When he is at liberty he is a good
friend to the farmer.
THE WOUNDED CURLEW.
By yonder sandy cove where, every day,
The tide flows in and out,
A lonely bird in sober brown and gray
Limps patiently about;
And round the basin's edge, o'er stones and sand,
And many a fringing weed,
He steals, or on the rocky ledge doth stand,
Crying, with none to heed.
But sometimes from the distance he can hear
His comrades' swift reply;
Sometimes the air rings with their music clear,
Sounding from sea and sky.
And then, oh, then his tender voice, so sweet,
Is shaken with his pain,
For broken are his pinions strong and fleet,
Never to soar again.
Wounded and lame and languishing he lives,
Once glad and blithe and free,
And in his prison limits frets and strives
His ancient self to be.
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