Curtain
Act Second
The Morning of the Cock
Wild hillside, moss-grown and ferny, overlooking a valley with scattered villages and winding river. Ruined wall, fragment of some vanished terrace. Gigantic chestnut tree, rank hollies and foxgloves. Litter suggesting neglected corner of a park: gardening implements lying on the ground, fagots, broken flower-pots.
Scene First
The Night-birds, of all sorts and sizes, form a great circle, perching in tiers on the branches, the briers, the stones; the Cat crouches in the grass; the Blackbird hops hither and thither on a fagot.
At the rise of the curtain the Night-birds are discovered, motionless, black shapes with closed eyes. The Grand Duke is perched upon a tree branch above the rest. The Screech-owl’s phosphorescent eyes alone are wide open. He proceeds with the roll-call, and at every name two great round eyes brighten in the dark.
The Screech-owl
[Calling.] Strix! [Two eyes light up.] Scops! [Two more eyes light up.] Grand-Duke! [Two more eyes.] Metascops! [Two more eyes.] Minor! [Two more eyes.]
One Night-bird
[To the other.] The Great Bubo presides.
The Screech-owl
[Calling.] Owl of the Wall! Of the Belfry! Of the Cloister! Of the Yew! [At every name two more eyes have opened wide.]
A Night-bird
[To another just arriving.] The roll is called!