ially was a good,
_dark_ hole, for he thought that sunshine was very dismal.

Though he was willing to bestir himself enough to suit anybody, when it
came to _hunting_, Solomon Owl did not like to work. He was no busy
nest-builder, like Rusty Wren. In his search for a house he looked several
times at the home of old Mr. Crow. If it had suited him better, Solomon
would not have hesitated to take that it was altogether _too light_ to
please him.

That was lucky for old Mr. Crow. And the black rascal knew it, too. He had
noticed that Solomon Owl was hanging about the neighborhood. And several
times he caught Solomon examining his nest.

But Mr. Crow did not have to worry long. For as it happened, Solomon Owl
at last found exactly what he wanted. In an old, hollow hemlock, he came
across a cozy, dark cavity. As soon as he saw it he knew that it was the
very thing! So he moved in at once. And except for the time that he spent
in the meadow--which was considerably later--he lived there for a good many
years.

Once Fatty Coon thought that he would drive Solomon out of his snug house
and live in it himself. But he soon changed Solomon Owl--so Fatty
discovered--had sharp, strong claws and a sharp, strong beak as well, which
curled over his face in a cruel hook.

It was really a good thing for Solomon Owl--the fight he had with Fatty
Coon. For afterward his neighbors seldom troubled him--except when Jasper
Jay brought a crowd of his noisy friends to tease Solomon, or Reddy
Woodpecker annoyed him by rapping on his door when he was asleep.

But those rowdies always took good care to skip out of Solomon's reach.
And when Jasper Jay met Solomon alone in the woods at dawn or dusk he was
most polite to the solemn old chap. _Then_ it was "How-dy-do, Mr. Owl!"
and "I hope you're well to-day!" And when Solomon Jasper, that bold fellow
always felt quite uneasy; and he was glad when Solomon Owl looked away.

If Solomon Owl chanced to _hoot_ on those occasions, Jasper Jay would jump
almost out of his bright blue coat. Then Solomon's deep laughter would
echo mockingly through the woods.

You see, though not nearly so wise as he appeared, Solomon Owl knew well
enough how to frighten some people.

III
SOLOMON LIKES FROGS

It was a warm summer's evening--so warm that Mr. Frog, the tailor, had
taken his sewing outside his tailor's shop and seated himself cross-legged
upon the bank of the brook, where he sang and sewed withou