An Owl Story.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 32, 7 August 1902, Page 27

An Owl Story.

An English traveller tolls t»his| story : A vague figune appeared out of the clouids, travelling against tha wind toward the spire, and looking) more like a ragged piece of newspaper whirled about the heavens than any living thing. It was a. white owl, and after watching him tor some time I came to the conclusion that he was toying to getj to the vano of the spire, A very idle ambition it seemed, for altlhaurch ho succeeded again and again in getting to within a few yards of the point aimed at ho was on each occasion stnuck by a fresh violent gustJ and driven back to a greater distance, often quite out of sight in the gloom. But presently ho would reappear, still struggling to reactt tho vane. A crazy bird ! But I could not help admiring; hid pluck, and greatly wondered whati his secret motive in aiming at that windy perch could be. And at last after so many defeats, he succeeded, and grasped the metal crossbar withl his crooked talons. The wind, with nil jts fury, could not tear him from it, anfd after a little flapping! lie was able to pull himself up ; and] then, bending down, he deliberately wiped his beak on the bar and flew away ! This, then, had been hid

powerful, mysterious motive— just to Jipe his beak, which ho could very ey have wiped on any branch or barnrail or fence, and saved himself that tremendous labor. This was an extreme instance of the effect of habit on a wild animal. Doubtless this bird had been) accustomed, after devouring his finstl mouse, to ily to the vane, where he could rest for a few minutes, taking] a genenal \ iew of the place, and wipe his beak at the same time „ and tho habit, had become so strong that ho could not forego his visit' oven on so tempestuous, an evening-.