SCREECH OWL 115 



like a snake *s ; thus the owl is enabled to swallow objects 

 that are large in proportion to its own head. It is fond 

 of small snakes, grasshoppers, small birds and, especially, 

 mice. Any farmer owning Screech Owls will have fewer 

 mice about his premises. 



When the shadows grow long this silent bunch of 

 feathers and blinking eyes grows animated, and its ghost- 

 suggesting trills and screams may be heard all through 

 the treetops as it moves on wings free from noise. Its 

 facial resemblance to one of the worst bird-destroying 

 mammals, the house cat, is remarkable. 



Like the wise ant, the Screech Owls frequently lay 

 by a food supply to be used in bad weather. They often 

 hunt in pairs. 



The night call of this Owl suggests the thought of 

 one of the late so-called dances, the '^shimmie." Add 

 to this the bird's droll habit of slowly winking one eye 

 and the picture is that of a ''shimmie vamp." The ne- 

 groes in the Southern States call the Screech Owl the 

 ''Shivering Owl." 



