Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-01-05
THE "ooLoNEL's" APPETITE
An Amusing Story of an Extraordinarily
VOrncIOus Pet Owl.

an ShhNbbAhk p'SAy W $50
VoraoiOus Pet Owl.
acquaintance with him began
when there was brought to me fluffy
white ball, nearly as big as my head,
with q pair of big, bright, round eyes
that seemed full Of wonderment at
his new surroundings. He had been
found on a ledge Of rock In the can
yon, among some sticks that an
swered Tor nest, his sole companions
being the remains OF Il jack rabbit
and an egg that had refused to trans
form into a second owlet.
He must have been quite young, as
no signs of feathers were visible. The
heavy coating Of down formed frill
about his face and gave him very
wise and venerable look. We dubbed
him Colonel and took great interest
in watching The development Of our
pet.
He was a ravenous eater, ana de-
voured mice, squirrels, birds and
young chickens with great avidity
when they were given to him. He
had no idea of hunting his own food,
but sat on the shady side Of the house
during the day. taking good care to
keep away from the cat and the old
hens, AS twilight approached he be-
gan to hop about, and would come to
the door and beg to come in.
In few weeks he began 70 try his
wings and we tied him with a long
cord, putting small chain next his
leg, for he would cut the cord as fast
as it was put on When fully feath-
cred he was OF light yellowish brown
color and measured about four feet
from tip to tip Of wings.
He never seemed to want water, as
he coul(l~ not be induced to swal-
low anything but animal food,
it was sometimes difficult to procure
a sufficient quantity Of what he liked,
Atsuch times he would partakc mine
ingly of hard-boiled egg, but would
not eaG enough to still his distressing
cry of hunger.
When at last some dainty was Sc
cured and temptingly presented the
capacious mouth would fly open while
the eyes closed-there was not room
enough for both to expand at the
same tlme-and squirrel or chicken
would disappear with gulp. 1t was
a source of never-ending wonderment
that articles Of such size and number
could go into even that huge orifce.
Some days after his arrival our little
3-year-old asked anxlously: "Mamm4,
could he swallow the baby"
For months the Colonel's time was
spent on an old shed, where he sat
and blinked his eyes in the sun and
snapped his jaws most menacingly at
all intruders He seemed to evince
considerable affection for his owners,
the road to his heart being the pro-
verbal one-by way Of the stomach.
One Hateful day his hungry squall
ceased without any intervention, and
the fragment of a chicken wing told
how his appetite had been appeased.
Alas for the chicken! Alas, for the
bird! That was the signal for his
Punishment from the farm. When
the time approached forhis departure
Jhe became frightened at the unusual
Abustle and flew to the end of his rope.
vt snapped, and for the first time in
his life he was free bird soaring
aloft in his native element. Round
and round he flew, as if loath to leave
the only home Of his remembrance
Fully realizing that the Colonel at
liberty would be much more danger
GUS to the poultry interest than the
Colonel in chains | tried with most
persuasive tones to lure him back.
Mindful Of the hand that fed him,
he came nearer and nearer, then
sailed to the ground short distance
from me and waited for the expected |
bite.
He was soon a captive again, but |
not until l had received some
scratches that kept my pet in vivid
remembrance during the first weeks
OF his absence.
He now lives in close proximity to
a butcher shop, where he never lacks
for fare to suit his fancy. Age and
confinement have secured his temper
until woe befalls the hand that dares
lntrude between the bars of his cage.
CleaVes and the Calves.