The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-11-29
|SBELL TELLS
 OF P0RCUPINE
 VERSUS AN OWL

Out over the forest the owl again launched himself and winged his way for some distance to dead birch, which had been killed by porcupines, who had completely stripped 1t of bark" writes Scout William IsbeH in an article contributed to Boys Life for November. Lighting in the up- per branches. he settled himself for his watch. Out over the forest went his haunting cry every few minutes. After watching In vain, he was about to give up in disgust and move on to another hunting ground. when a noise from below arrested him. Down dim trail came a numbering animal which grunted and chattered to itself as 1t walked; after 1t came a much smaller creature, smaller than the rabbit, which he had downed earlier In the evening. Down dropped the owl on the smaller of the two crea- ures. He clutched the little animal with his talons, but instantly let go and veered off and up with 8 fright ened squak. Stingfng pains shot through his feet. legs and thighs
 'The frightened owl flew some dis tance before he attempted to light. As he attempted to land, but each time landed on the limb, the pains stabbed him worse than ever. Up into the air he flew wildly. Again and again he attempted to laid. but each time flew on as the pains shot through his legs and feet He had unfortu- nately clutched a young porcupine who was out with its mother for moon light stroll. His feet, legs and thighs were filled with sharp, barbed quills, which drove deeper into his flesh each time he attempted to light.
 "On and on he flew, till almost ready to drop from exhaustion, he landed in the thick top of a spruce. With, wings outstretched. he lay on the thick branches till he had some- what recovered. Then he worked himself into the lower branches of the tree with a great deal of trouble and pain. Here he sat and pecked at his legs, which did not tend to help matters at all From time to time he called, but his cry was far different from the bold rolling cry of earlier in the evening. Now 1t was just 8 thin, weak, half hearted, Who-who-whooo.
 Finally day broke, and as 1t grew lighter the owl edgec up to the trunk and prepared to go to sleep. He did
 
 edge of corn field, close to a farm house, or that the crows used his spruce to post their. sentinels in, while they pulled the farm CTS corn.
 ''The crows arrived at daylight and the first crow who arrived attempted to alight in the spruce, nearly turn ing a summersault in his efforts to check himself as he saw the big owl. At the alarm the rest of the crows pressed in to attack, flying past him and diving at him. The owl simply glared around and snapped his bill as the crows came near.
 ''The racket the crows were making drew the attention of the farmers son, as he came cut of the house. Knowing that the crows had some thing in the tree to torment, he got his tweny-two and started for the spruce. As soon as the crows saw him coming they sneaked off. When he arrived at the spruce he carefully searched the thick top and finally discovered the owl. At the crack of the little gun the owl Topped to the ground. As he bent to pick he owl up, look of astonishment came over the boys face. Gosh! Hedgehog quillsl he gasped. Good thing got him, or he would have starved to death. Goshi'"