The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1893-10-11
AN UNANSWERED QUESTION.
Why Do Cats Eyes Shine In the Dark
While Mems Eyes Do Not?

Why Do Cats Eyes Shine In the Dark
While Mems Eyes DO Not?
Why do cats eyes shine in the dark
while mems eyes do not? The author of
Idle Days In Patagonia" raises this
question without answering it. He shot
and wounded an eagle owl. and the sight
OF the bird, he says, was one of the
greatest surprises with which nature
ever favored him. The owls haunt was
an island overgrown with grass and tall
willows. Thither Mr.. Hudson went to-
ward evening and found him upon his
perch waiting for sunset. He eyed the
intruder so calmly as almost to Gisarm.
him, but hunters of specimens have n
way of hardening their hearts. Mr..
Hudson fired. The owl swerved on his
perch, remained suspended for few mo-
ments and then slowly fluttered down.
He says:
found my victim stung to fury by
his wounds and ready for the last su-
preme effort. Even in repose he is big,
eagleli1e bird; now in the uncertain
light he looked gigantic in size-a mon
ster of strange form and terrible aspect.
Each particular feather stood ON end,
the tawny barred tail spread out like a
fan, the immense tiger colored wings
wide open and rigid, so that as the bird,
that had clutched the grass with his
great feathered claws, swayed slowly
from side to side-just as snake about
to strike sways his head, or as an angry,
watchful cat moves its tail-hrst the tip
of one, then of the other wing touched
the ground.
The black horns stood erect, while in
the center of the wheel shaped head the
beak snapped necessarily, producing a
sound like the clicking of a sewing ma
chine. This was suitable setting for
the pair of magnificent, furious eyes, on
which gazed with kind of fascination,
not unmixed with fear, when l remem-
bered the agony suffered on former oc-
casions from sharp, crooked talons driv-
en- into me to the bone.
The irides were of bright orange
color, but every time l attempted to ap-
proach the bird they kindled into great
globes of quivering yellow flame, the
black pupils being surrounded bya scin-
tillating crimson light which threw out
minute yellow sparks into the air. When
l retired from the bird, this preternatu-
raj fiery aspect would instantly vanish.
The question as to the cause of this
fiery appearance is one hard to answer.
We know that the source of the lumi-
Mostly in owls and cats eyes is the light
rejecting membrane between the retina
and the sclerotic coat of the eyeball, but
the mystery remains. When with the
bird, l particularly noticed that every
time l retired the nictilating membrane
would Immediately cover the eyes and
obscure them for some time, as they will
when an owl is confronted with strong
sunlight, and this gave me the impression
that the fiery, flashing appearance was
accompanied with or followed by a burn
ing or smarting sensation.
have lived great deal among semi
savage men. l have often seen them
frenzied with excitement, their faces
white as ashes, their hair erect and their
eyes dropping great tears of rage, but !
have never seen in them anything ap-
preaching to that fiery appearance of the
owl.-Youth's Companion.