Now that is a terrible sound in the dark woods, very terrible indeed to
the little forest people, because it sounds so fierce and hungry. It
makes them jump and shiver, and that is just what Hooty wants them to
do, for in doing it one of them is likely to make just the least
scratching with his claws, or to rustle a leaf. If he does, Hooty, whose
ears are very, very wonderful, is almost sure to hear, and with his
great yellow eyes see him, and then--Hooty has his dinner.

The very night when Peter Rabbit started on his journey to the Old
Pasture, Hooty the Owl had made up his mind that something had got to be
done to get more food for those hungry babies of his up in the big
hemlock-tree in the darkest corner of the Green Forest. Hunting was very
poor, very poor indeed, and Hooty was at his wits' end to know what he
should do. He had hooted and hooted in vain in the Green Forest, and he
had sailed back and forth over the Green Meadows like a great black
shadow without seeing so much as a single Mouse.

"It's all because of Old Man Coyote and Granny and Reddy Fox," said
Hooty angrily. "They've spoiled the hunting. Yes, Sir, that's just what
they have done! If I expect to feed those hungry babies of mine, I must
find new hunting grounds. I believe I'll go up to the Old Pasture.
Perhaps I'll have better luck up there."

So Hooty the Owl spread his broad wings and started for the Old Pasture
just a little while after Peter Rabbit had started for the same place.
Of course he didn't know that Peter was on his way there, and of course
Peter didn't know that Hooty even thought of the Old Pasture. If he had,
perhaps he would have thought twice before starting. Anyway, he would
have kept a sharper watch on the sky. But as it was his thoughts were