Page:Bird-lore Vol 01.djvu/205

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Richardson's Owl 191 and with waits for lulls in the wind. The bird seemed fearless, but I dared not try to put him on the alert, nor cause him to open his eyes. The eighth exposure was made at about two feet, the camera leisurely dismounted, and the bird then quietly caught RICHARDSON S OWL about the back, with the left hand, while his attention was dis- tracted with the right. The little captive showed no fight nor did he try to escape so long as I held him by the feet, in an upright position. But when his body was clasped he would struggle vigorously. With all the handling I gave him in taking weights and measures, the only wounding he caused ni}' hands was made in his attempts to secure a better grasp of my holding hand. While not actually tame, from the first he showed ecstatic delight in my stroking of the feathers on the back of his head, — chirping delightedly during the pro- cess, with much the manner and voice of a chicken when tucked under the maternal wing. While spending his first night of captivity in my study, pend- ing careful examination, he dropped upon my book-cases several casts, which are still awaiting analysis. At noon of the second