oak dusk fight squeak ruf'fled

bag Fred whoo a wake' creep'ing

THE OWL.

1. "Where did you get that owl, Harry?"

2. "Fred and I found him in the old, hollow oak."

3. "How did you know he was there?"

4. "I'll tell you. Fred and I were playing 'hide and seek' round the old
barn, one night just at dusk.

5. "I was just creeping round the corner, when I heard a loud squeak, and
a big bird flew up with something in his claws.

6. "I called Fred, and we watched him as he flew to the woods. Fred
thought the bird was an owl, and that he had a nest in the old oak.

7. "The next day we went to look for him, and, sure enough, he was there."

8. "But how did you catch him? I should think he could fight like a good
fellow with that sharp bill."

9. "He can when he is wide awake; but owls can't see very well in the
daytime, and he was taking a nap.

10. "He opened his great eyes, and ruffled up his feathers, and said,
"Whoo! Whoo!' 'Never mind who,' Fred said, and slipped him into a bag."

LESSON LIII.

while bones scarce'ly mous'er

mice rolled sur prised' swal'lows

wink'ing com'ic al duck'lings cap'ture

[Illustration: Boy catching owl in tree.]

THE OWL.
(CONCLUDED.)

1. "What are you going to do with him, Harry?"

2. "Let him go. He doesn't like this cage half so well as his old oak
tree. A young owl can be tamed easily, but this one is too old to tame."

3. "But won't he catch all your ducklings and little chickens?"

4. "No, not while there are any rats or mice around. Father says an owl is
a good mouser, and can catch more mice than half a dozen cats."

5. "I'm glad I had a look at him before you let him go. What soft feathers
he has!"

6. "Yes, he can fly so softly that you can scarcely hear him, and for this
reason he can easily surprise and capture his prey."

7. "How comical he looks, winking his big eyes slowly, and turning his
head from side to side!"

[Illustration: Two boys talking.]

8. "Yes; he is watching your dog. Be still. Bounce!

9. "We have just found out a funny thing about his way of eating. He
breaks the bones of a mouse, and then swallows it whole. After an hour or
two, he throws up the bones and fur rolled up in a little ball."

LESSON LIV.

broad knee fig fresh city trout un der neath'

fought (fawt) sur prised' clap'ping gar'den

car'ry ing