Owls are supposed to be the wisest of birds, and the one who took up residence in a Yard treetop over a week ago must be having a good sagacious laugh. No example of the species Scotiaptex Nebulosa, or for that matter no example of any predatory bird, has even had much real affection for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. But now, the ASPCA is patting this owl's sharp beak reassuringly and mumbling something about "God's Law." Any owl worthy of his feathers must appreciate the joke.

In his own quiet way, our visitor clutches his ribs in glee when he thinks of what the ASPCA said about the "balance of nature." The natural habitat of the bird owl is the Harvard Yard, and to take him away for a winter in the suburbs would upset a delicate scale. Then he puts his foot in his mouth and chokes with mirth when he things of those pigeons and squirrels.

During the day our bird sits still and digests the night's bill of fare. Every hour he opens his eyes to watch the students walking by between classes. He's not unusually conceited for an owl, but he can't help thinking that they're not so wise as he is. Why don't they get rid of a few of the duller professors, in keeping with God's Law of course, just to see what would happen.

Sometimes, generally towards evening, it occurs to him that the squirrels didn't have much meat on them. Some of the Radcliffe freshman look much. . . No! There are some thoughts that even an own dare not think. But it's all so tempting, because anything he does is okay and part of the ASPCA's balance of nature. Surely it doesn't apply only to owls, muses the wise one. People are the ones who make the rules, and they are like owls, only not so wise. If they believe that what is goes, perhaps they live that way themselves. A pleasant world for a bird of prey.