“Theycannotseebyday；andiftheygetoutintothelight，theygoflappingroundhalfblind，andtheotherbirdschaseandpeckatthem，asiftheyweremakingfun。Thehornedowlisverybig，’mostasbigastheeagle。Iteatsrabbits，rats，snakes，andbirds；andlivesinrocksandoldtumble-downhouses。Theyhaveagoodmanycries，andscreamlikeapersonbeingchoked，andsay，’WaughO!waughO!’anditscarespeopleatnightinthewoods。Thewhiteowllivesbythesea，andincoldplaces，andlookssomethinglikeahawk。Thereisakindofowlthatmakesholestoliveinlikemoles。Itiscalledtheburrowingowl，andisverysmall。
Thebarn-owlisthecommonestkind；andIhavewatchedonesittinginaholeinatree，lookinglikealittlegraycat，withoneeyeshutandtheotheropen。Hecomesoutatdusk，andsitsroundwaitingforthebats。
Icaughtone，andhereheis。“
WiththatNatsuddenlyproducedfrominsidehisjacketalittledownybird，whoblinkedandruffledhisfeathers，lookingveryplumpandsleepyandscared。
“Don’ttouchhim!Heisgoingtoshowoff，“saidNat，displayinghisnewpetwithgreatpride。Firstheputacockedhatonthebird’shead，andtheboyslaughedatthefunnyeffect；thenheaddedapairofpaperspectacles，andthatgavetheowlsuchawiselookthattheyshoutedwithmerriment。Theperformanceclosedwithmakingthebirdangry，andseeinghimclingtoahandkerchiefupsidedown，peckingand“clucking，“asRobcalledit。Hewasallowedtoflyafterthat，andsettledhimselfonthebunchofpine-conesoverthedoor，wherehesatstaringdownatthecompanywithanairofsleepydignitythatamusedthemverymuch。