276 BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



probably the saio-whetter, which is heard so often by those 

 who visit the White Mountains. Its common cry at night re- 

 sembles the dull sound of a whistle. 



This bird is solitary in its habits, confining itself to the ever- 

 green forests by day. When disturbed it flies timidly, and 

 takes advantage of the first shelter it reaches, where it may be 

 caught by one who uses sufficient caution in his approach. At 

 evening it becomes lively, flying round with wonderful swift- 

 ness in search of mice, beetles, moths and grasshoppers. It 

 sometimes manifests a desire to see the world. Some have 

 been taken in the heart of our cities ; in Cincinnati, one was 

 caught on the edge of a cradle in which a child lay asleep. 



The Arctic, or White-horned Owl; Strix arctica, is a rare 

 and beautiful bird, of which a single specimen was obtained by 

 Dr. Richardson in his expedition, shot with an arrow, by an 

 Indian boy. Nuttall says, that a specimen was once seen for 

 two or three days in Cambridge, and from descriptions which I 

 have received, of a bird resembling the snowy owl. with horns, 

 I am persuaded that it will turn out to be a more frequent visi- 

 ter than is now supposed. 



Tengmalm's Owl, Strix Tengmalmi, is a small species, and 

 so entirely a bird of night, that when seen abroad by day, it is 

 unable to escape, and may be caught by the hand. It feeds 

 on mice and beetles, and is found in all the forests of the fur 

 countries, where its melancholy note, repeated at intervals, like 

 minute guns, awakens the superstitious feeling of some of the 

 Indians, who call it the bird of death. It is on the high 

 authority of Audubon, who, as Dr. Brewer tells me, has found 

 this owl here, that it is added to the present list. 



In an economical point of view, the biids of prey just enu- 

 merated, are of no great importance. The hawks, and some 

 of the owls, are powerful birds, and, as the depredations of the 

 latter are carried on by night, they might be very destructive 

 to the poultry if their numbers were greater. But in so exten- 

 sive a country, most of them can secure food without trusting 



