502 BUBO VIRGINIANUS, GREAT HORNED OWL. 



grass and feathers, is placed among the branches of a tree, generally at 

 a great height. The eggs are colorless, snbspherical, measuring about 

 2\ inches in length by li, or a little less in breadth. They are said to 

 range from three to six in a clutch. The only instance ot breeding of 

 which I have become per-soually aware was at Pembina, Dakota, where, 

 early in June, I found two young birds in the tiuiber-belt along the 

 river. Both parents were observed, perched on the tree-tops, near the 

 nest, ami Hying boldly, apparenty not in the least incommoded by the 

 ligiit of day. That they could see perfectlj" well, was evidenced by the 

 (jjire they took to keep at a distance. The young, two in number, were 

 found on a prostrate log; where the nest was I had no idea — perhaps it 

 was in the hollow of a large blasted tree that overshadowed the log. 

 The young were entirely unfledged ; the downy covering was entirely 

 v.'hite. On approach, they resented the liberty in the usual manner, 

 clicking the bill, hissing, and throwing themselves into an upright pos- 

 ture. They could scarcely stand, however, and were easily secured. I 

 took them with me, and they were amusing pets for a whole summer, 

 <luiing which time they traveled with me several hundred miles. They 

 got their feathers in due season, and became very finely plumaged by 

 the fall. The first plumage, after the down disappeared, was of a much 

 more uniformly fulvous cast than that ensuing when the dark gray 

 mottling, and distinctive white of the under parts, was assumed. The 

 birds ate freely from the first — in fact were voracious, grew rapidly, and 

 became more tame than any other birds of prey I have ever kept. They 

 would suffer themselves to be handled without impatience, and would 

 occasionally fly up on my shoulder. Early in their lives they had two 

 different notes, one of hunger or loneliness, a querulous explosive sylla- 

 ble, and the other a harsh cry of anger, or remonstrance, when rudely 

 handled, or too nearly a[)proached by an unfamiliar object. They did 

 not begin to hoot until they were about four months old, and then only 

 while at liberty during the night. For ihey became so thoroughly tame, 

 that, as their wings grew, enabling them to take short flights, I used to 

 release them in the evening from the tether by which they were usually 

 confined. They enjoyed the liberty, and eventually used to stay away 

 all night, doubtless foraging for themselves for their natural prey, and 

 returning to their shelter behind my tent in the morning. 



These Owls were most active during the night; yet it would be a 

 great mistake to suppose their vision is much restricted in the daytime, 

 notwithstanding that they belong to a group of Owls commonly regarded 

 as nocturnal. They passed most of the day, indeed, crouching in the 

 shadow of the tent, and it was only toward sundown that they became 

 active, flying the length of their tether in the attempt to reach the 

 ridge of the tent ; yet their vision was acute at all hours. I often saw 

 them look up and follow with their eyes the motions of a grasshopper 

 or butterfly, flickering several yards up in the air. On one occasion, in 

 particular, I saw them both gazing steadfastly, and on looking up to see 

 what had attracted their attention, I was m.Nself bUnded by the glare, 

 for the direction was exactly in the sun's eye. But a few moments 

 afterward 1 discovered a pair of white Cranes, fioating in circles half a 

 mile high. The Owl's eyes endured a glare that my own could not, and 

 the birds certainly saw the objects, for they slowly moved the head as 

 the Cranes passed over. The best of the supposed performances of an 

 Eagle soaring in the sun's eye, could not excel this. Nor was the innei' 

 eyelid drawn over the ball to shade it. 1 had abundnnt evidence, on 

 this and nunierous other occasions, that the movements of the bird's 

 iris are entirely under the control of the will, instead, as commonly 



