OWLS IN THE EAVES, ALAS

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

Perhaps it is silly to try to understand the complex and sophisticated problems which surround the management of Harvard grounds and buildings. The latest ingenious scheme emerged last week in the context of the age-old struggle between pigeons and buildings.

Several workmen labored all afternoon on the roof of Widener Library and bored holes, at carefully measured ten foot intervals, into the ledge around the interior court. In these holes were inserted poles with strings dangling from the end. At the end of each string there is a nine inch gilt owl which sways menacingly in the wind. The pigeons have been fearless, however, and continue to walk and roost on the ledge with no thought of their own safety.

If the same management which deemed this a worthy expense happened to consider that the experiment was a success, we could expect to find owls dangling from strings all over the University. Presumably large owls would replace the gargoyles on Memorial Hall; only the steel and glass structures, built ledgeless, would survive unimproved. W. A. Hawkins 2L.

P.S. Owls are on view from the second floor catalogue room.