Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 July 1892 — THE BIRD OF WISDOM. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE BIRD OF WISDOM.

Some Interesting Facts Concerning’ tlie Owl and its Habits. •Owls are found In all parts of the world, and there are many kinds of awls, differing in size and color, but not much in habit. Our cut shows nne of the smaller species, says an exchange. They are all grave, majestic-look-ing creatures, that hide in lonely places during the day and come out it night to look for such prey as mice, small birds or any animal food

of which they can get hold. They never by any chance look as if they were happy, but they always look wise, and you know, probably, that in olden times the Greeks considered the owl a sacred bird, and it was said to be a special favorite of the goddess of wisdom, Athene. There is something attractively mysterious about an owl, and when one of the big ones, known as barn* owls or screech owls, flies noiselessly through the air on a warm summer night, uttering a weird and mournful cry, one has almost the feeling, as one stands and watches it, as if one had suddenly got into quite a strange world. In the woods after dark one ma> often hear owls call to each other, or listen to the queer little uttempts at shrieking by the owlets. One of the most curious of North American species is the burrowing owl, which inhabits a hole In the ground. If necessary it will make Its own burrow, but prefers to lake possession of that of the prairie dog.

THE OWL.