Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-12
K00k00sk00s

This is a queer name and 1t belongs
to queer bird must tell you how
Robin first made his acquaintance. He
was in the woods down by the swamp
with his father one evening, just at
dusk. Thye were hunting for Betsy,
the brindle cow that was in the habit
Of straying of.
"If Betsy should take 1t into her
head to wander down to the swamp,
I'm afraid we would have hard time
getting her out" Mr.. Jordan said in
an anxious tone. -
Suddenly a strange, weird call fell
upon their ears. 1t was a pit1ful cry,
as OF some creature in distress. For q
time Betsy and her wanderings were
forgotten as the two stopped and
listened.
It was cool evening in early
spring, and Robin still wore his fur
cap. An unexpected and sudden
.pounce upon his head caused him to
cry out
ut is only an owl, don't be afraid"
his father said in an assuring tone.
HE probably wants piece of fur
out Of your cap to line his nest"
But the owl did not dy away, as
had been expected, and, when Mr..
Jordan reached out his hand, 1t only
huttered to the ground.
ri think the poor birds wing is bro
KEN" Mr.. Jordan observed. IF It
wasn't for Betsy, would carry it
home. Perhaps we might tame It.
Suppose you run on ahead with It,"
he suggested to Robin.
AT first Robin was a little fearful
But, when his father proposed taking
off his cap and making a nest for the
bird his confidence returned, and he
was soon running along the cart
path with the strange looking crea'
ture that continued at short intervals
to send forth a mournful "Whoooo-
hoo.hoo!" upon the night air.
When he reached the house, the
owl fiuttered from Robins cap to the
floor, and then three was given a
chance to examine it more closely.
The bird was what is commonly
known as the Long-eared Owl, his
aunt Alice told him. Aunt Alice had
studied birds and knew all about
them. ..
Robin discovered a large opening
dOOVo IuS owl CyC OOASbSA SAAS
feathers, that extended part way
round its face. He was surprised to
learn that this was the owls ears.
An owl with broken wing Is one
of the most helpless of birds, as 1t is
blind in the daytime and cannot see
it's way around, as other birds can,
and for this reason Kookooskoos grew
to be very tame during the time that
his wing was mending, and would
often perch on Robins shoulder at
the twilight hour and give his hunt
ing call, which Is series OF i've
notes, "Whooo-hoo-hoo, whooooo!
the last two notes being very short.
The enormous ear opening Of the
owl enables it to hear the slightest
rustic of rat or mouse In the grass,
or "the scrape of a sparrow's toes on
a branch of a tree fifty feet away"
And, when Kookooskoos gave this
startling cry from the watch-tower Of
Robins shoulder, the little boy was
always sure that the owl was hear
ing sounds that he could not and was
longing to pounce down upon some
little creature in the grass or among
the trees, that only that poor Topped
wing prevented him from securing
for his supper.
After the wandering Betsy had
been found and safely lodged in her
stall, on the night that Kookooskoos
fell into Robins care, a nest had been
made for the owl in the shed out of
an old fur cap; and here he spent his
nights and a good part Of his days
until the time came when he was
able again to seek his woodland
haunts. f
It was a lonesome night for Robin
when for the first time he missed the
familiar grasp Of Kookoosk oos's