Edward Lear and the Eagle Owl

Yesterday, I flew an eagle owl. Now, though this might be the correct verb to use it required no flying on my part more's the pity - I just had to hold my arm out and the Owl flew to me - as you can see here.


These birds are native to Europe and were common enough before the Victorians shot them to near extinction in the belief that they'd be better stuffed and displayed in a glass case than living in a forest. Edward Lear - a famous Victorian - did not, as far as I know, shoot an eagle owl - but he did marry one off to a pussycat and have them sail away for a year and a day to the land where the bong tree grows.