272 BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



The Red Owl, Strix asio. is a permanent resident, and rears 

 its young in Massachusetts ; appearing more common in win- 

 ter, not because it migrated in the milder season, but, its sup- 

 plies in the forest failing, it comes to barns and houses in 

 search of food. During the day, it finds shelter in unfrequent- 

 ed places, and when seen, appears drowsy and listless, as if 

 more than half asleep. It has good reason for preferring soli- 

 tude at such times ; for the smaller birds, which it persecutes 

 by night, know that they have the advantage by day, and do 

 not scruple to follow up their revenge. Sometimes they pro- 

 ceed from words to blows, and the owl, having the worst of 

 the battle, is compelled to seek safety in a random flight. It 

 is known by the name of the little screech owl, from the 

 cry which it makes in the early part of the night. 



In connexion with the history of this bird, Audubon asks 

 the question, why it is that the owls living in the milder 

 climates, should be thus defective in their power of vision, 

 while the natives of Arctic regions can see both by night 

 and day, when the sun or moon shines bright on the snow. 

 Without referring to the structure of the eye, it is obviously a 

 reason of this difference, that, if those birds had not the double 

 power, in latitudes where the days and nights are unequal, 

 they would be able to see for half the year, and would be 

 blind for the other ; and thus when the days are long, must 

 perish for want of food ; whereas, to those which live where 

 the hours of sunshine are not many, even at the summer sols- 

 tice, it is no hardship to be compelled to take rest by day. 



Nuttall kept one of these owls in confinement, to observe 

 its habits. In the day, it retreated to a dark closet ; but as 

 night came on, it grew restless, gliding along the room in per- 

 fect silence, a power which the owls owe to the delicate plu- 

 mage of their wings. Sometimes it would cling to the wain- 

 scot, and turn its head almost round, resembling a spectre with 

 its bright glaring eyes. In all the owls, the globe of the eye 

 is immoveably fixed in its socket, by an elastic cartilaginous 

 case, in the form of a truncated cone. On removing the out- 

 ward membrane which covers this case, it is found to consist 



