98 



MEANS OF EXPRESSION 



Chap. IV. 



are said not to fly away, but " merely to stick out their 

 feathers and scream." The Barn-owl, when approached 

 " instantly swells out its plumage, extends its wings and 

 tail, hisses and clacks its mandibles with force and rapid- 

 ity." 14 So do other kinds of owls. Hawks, as I am 



Fig. 12. — Hen driving away a dog from her chickens. 

 Drawn from life by Mr. Wood. 



informed by Mr. Jenner Weir, likewise ruffle their feath- 

 ers, and spread out their wings and tail under similar 

 circumstances. Some kinds of parrots erect their feath- 

 ers; and I have seen this action in the Cassowary, when 

 angered at the sight of an Ant-eater. Young cuckoos 

 in the nest, raise their feathers, open their mouths 

 widely, and make themselves as frightful as possible. 



14 On the Stri.r flammed, Audubon, ' Ornithological Bi- 

 ography,' 1864, vol. ii. p. 407. I have observed other cases 

 in the Zoological Gardens. 



