I believe I 'll so over and have a look . '' So he turned in the direction of the lonesome corner of the Green Forest , and as he drew near , he moved very carefully , so as to see all that he could without frightening the Crows . He knew that as soon as they saw him , they would fly away , and that might alarm the one they were tormenting , for he knew enough of Crow ways to know that when they were making such a noise as they were now making , they were plaguing some one . Blacky was the first to see him because he was watching for him . But he did n't say anything until Farmer Brown 's boy was so near that he could n't help but see that nest and Hooty himself , sitting up very straight and snapping his bill angrily at his tormentors . Then Blacky gave the alarm , and at once all the Crows rose in the air and headed for the Green Meadows , cawing at the top of their lungs . Blacky went with them a little way . The first chance he got he dropped out of the flock and silently flew back to a place where he could see all that might happen at the nest of Hooty the Owl . When Farmer Brown 's boy first caught sight of the nest and saw the Crows darting down toward it and acting so excited , he was puzzled . `` That 's an old nest of Red-tail the Hawk , '' thought he . `` I found that last spring . Now what can there be there to excite those Crows so ? '' Then he caught sight of Hooty the Owl . `` Ha , so that 's it ! '' he exclaimed . `` Those scamps have discovered Hooty and have been having no end of fun tormenting him . I wonder what he 's doing there . '' He no longer tried to keep out of sight , but walked right up to the foot of the tree , all the time looking up . Hooty saw him , but instead of flying away , he snapped his bill just as he had at the Crows and hissed . `` That 's funny , '' thought Farmer Brown 's boy .
`` If I did n't know that to be the old nest of Redtail the Hawk , and if it were n't still the tail-end of winter , I would think that was XXXXX 's nest . ''
Blacky Brown Crow Forest Hooty Meadows Red-tail right scamps tormentors