Would those two big white eggs be there ? Perhaps there would be three ! The very thought made him flap his wings a little faster . A few more wing strokes and he would be right over the tree . How he did hope to see those eggs ! He could almost see into the nest now . One stroke ! Two strokes ! Three strokes ! Blacky bit his tongue to keep from giving a sharp caw of disappointment and surprise . There were no eggs to be seen . No , Sir , there was n't a sign of eggs in that old nest . There was n't because -- why , do you think ? There was n't because Blacky looked straight down on a great mass of feathers which quite covered them from sight , and he did n't have to look twice to know that that great mass of feathers was really a great bird , the bird to whom those eggs belonged . Blacky did n't turn to come back as he had planned . He kept right on , just as if he had n't seen anything , and as he flew he shivered a little . He shivered at the thought of what might have happened to him if he had tried to steal those eggs the day before and had been caught doing it . `` I 'm thankful I knew enough to leave them alone , '' said he . `` Funny I never once guessed whose eggs they are . I might have known that no one but Hooty the Horned Owl would think of nesting at this time of year .
And that was Mrs. XXXXX I saw on the nest just now .
Blacky Hooty Owl caw flap right stroke strokes thought year