Owl Refuses to Pose for 'Life' Deserts Pine Tree

The Owl turned shy for the first time in his three week visitation when Life Magazine photographer Martha Holmes tried to take his portrait yesterday afternoon.

Miss Holmes spared no efforts, but she failed to take into account the unpredictability and abnormal sagacity that has endeared the owl to students since he first began to prey on the College's pigeons. She got no pictures yesterday. She stood high on the platform of a Cambridge Electric Company streetlamp repair truck behind University Hall and focussed her telephoto camera on the tree where the owl was sitting, hidden behind leafless branches.

Finally the owl came out into view--only to fly away to a less public roost. For the next half hour, Miss Holmes amused a crowd of freshmen and assorted passersby as she strove to get within range of the wily bird.

As dusk approached, Miss Holmes decided to give up for the day.