The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1889-12-13
THE GREAT GRAY OWL.


woods with his gun, a-shootin' innocent birds
in a most tritln' way. IL does seem as ef .
dead bird was worth more 10 him than its
weight in dollars, the way be takes on over
EN- sometimes, an smo, tbs their feathers, an
erins, an carries 'em of home a-~his;lin'.
Uncle ETy ouShter nut stop 70 his triiiin,"
Clay was misunderstood The innocent
birds" were not killed wantonly nor in iUe
amusement Clay was thoroughly "A student
of nature. he loved this feathered songsters,
and il was for This love that he sought 10 ob-
tain and 10 study them Clay was an en-
thusastic ornitholosist
In the rough neghborhood in which he
lived the people did not appreciate his pas
sion. How there could lie joy and triumph
in the discovery of al unusually bright
breasted oriole or a peculiar colored warbler
was entirely beyond their somewhat duh
comprehension.
Clay would have explained these matters
had any one among his neighbors cared 20
he informed, but he did not seek 20 force in
formation upon them. and their ignorant re-
marks did not disturb him in the least Only
one person was able to annoy him 10y crlu-
cising his pursuits. that was Saul Rhodes,
boy with whom Clay thought it a disgrace TO
have words of any kind.
\ hook on or1nthology, which In his early
boyhood had fallen into Clay's possession,
had started him in his fayorte study and was
a source OF constant reference and pleasure
10 him lie called Il his field book, +" for he
frequently carried it about with him, and
every new bird he secJrcd was by its aid
Identified and named.
Clay was an orphan boy, about II years
III a.. uuffh a N
a farm near the banks Of the Missouri river
He had never been able 10 get the book
learning" he desired, and about the only
things he could call his own were the clothes
on his back. his beloved field book and his
specimens Even the old shotgun he used he
had found slowed away in the farmhouse
gnrrct, where Uncle Ezry bad put It when
his squirrel hunting days were over
The old man had AS little sympathy for
Claws study as his neighbors had, and he
was n severe taskmaster, who made the boy
work as hard and a. long as the hired man.
But when there was no work which was par
ticularly pressing, he was not 80 Ill naturod
as to refuse him the gun and n little time TO
himself, for all that II was TO carry on fool
ishnesS'
Clay had filed his little sleeping room in
the old farm house with many specimens Of
the birds of the country lie had studied
taSidcrmv, and had mounted many Of his
specimens in careful and rraiseworthy
manner There we're some rare birds In his
collection, and these he secretly hoped one
day 10 sell, and thereby gain some money TO
enable him to 90 10 school
He had also corresponded with the author
Of his field book" who had given him the
name Of every rara avis which was likely TO
be found In his vicinity, together with the
cash price a professional bird fancier would
pay for each So he was always on the look
out for unusual birds to add to his collection
or To sell al a bargain.
/ One cold April evening Uncle Ezry sent
Clay 10 the ferry on al errand, and Of course
the boy carried the gun along The '.Afance
was about three miles, and in a walk OF this
length it was not at all Improbable that he
would sec some desirable specimen, either an
early spring adyenturer or a winter aggard
The road lay for the most part along the
bank of the river, and as the wild geese were
now flying north, he thought he might get a
shot at some Of these birds, which were IN
vortc food at his uncle's table.
He did succeed, very soon aftersr"a started,
in bringing down two geese, which he left in
n covert of bushes until he should return ,
but he saw no other birds Of any kind worth
shooting on his way 10 the ferry
Here he met Saul Rhodes, overgrown, slov.
enly dressed and loud mouthed, who Informed
him thnt he was just really tO go home, and
would walk with him
This was unpleasant intelligence - Clay
for he had no interest IN cOl-~non with his
rough young ueShbor, whose company was
very distasteful 20 him. but be could not well
refuse % walk with him, 50. having deliver
ed his MESA - to the ferry master, Clny, in
company with Saul. started on the return
home.
As the Young naturalist had expected, be
fore they had gone half mile Saul began to
sneer at hi, habit of hunting birds "Wastin'
NJ much COOL powder an shot" he said
"Whatd ye hiring yer gun fer to- nightf'
he went on 10 say "Yc can't kill no robins
when it, this cold, nu' at dusk, too"
IL don't want any robins" Clay replied
Il got two geese coming down, and I'm la
ble to get some night birds about this time.
Night birds, haw haw!" laughed Saul
What you need is right cap an wig
Saul hurst into second coarse roar of
laughter which was cut short by the sudden
explosion Of Clay's gun, a. the ever alert boy
caught sight - "A large bird as IL few across
the road just in front Of them.
"a
had missed but rs the smoke cleared he vas
surprised and eated 20 see the bird nuttering
IN the middle - the road.
He ran forward, followed leisurely 10y his
companion. and perceived that the bird was
an immense owl, and that ms shot had wing
ed and partially stunned IL.
He was t1u wise 10 take hold ~ il with his
bare fingers until he had completely disabled
n - ha ttla~pl n foot ON each wing and thus
held it firmly 10 the ground
Then be examined u closely, for be quickly
recognized that Il was "A new species, one that
he had never zen before. The light vas fn,i.
ing but he ten, down and, without difficulty.
made ont IL Distinguishing features
All at once The young OrnitholOgist gave an
excited exclamation. lisa great gray ovl.'
DO tell said bis companion, with mock
concern. "A great gray owl. Eaal, wal,
who'd a thought itf'
Clay SAID nothing With eager eyes be
scanned the owl from beak e. feet and tip oi
tail tie noted the great yellow eyes and
uil. the dark brown - Us back. mottled with
grayish white, and the broken barred wings
and tail. with grayish white marbling The
under PARTS we're dark brown aud pale gray,
aud the great facial disc was markell with
dark brown and light gray rings concentric
with each eve, and belov them Was the
ragged white collar
Clay had fully acquainted himself with the
characteristics of this rare member ~ the
owl family and after bis scrutiny be had no
hesitation In positively declaring Il 70 be In.
deed a great gray owl
The only thing { see Gurus bout u, said
Saul. s1rcastically, 'ts thst IL amt great
~.