Richardson's Owl 191 



and with waits for lulls in the wind. The bird seemed fearless, but I 

 dared not try to put him on the alert, nor cause him to open his 

 eyes. The eighth exposure was made at about two feet, the 

 camera leisurely dismounted, and the bird then quietly caught 



RICHARDSON S OWL 



about the back, with the left hand, while his attention was dis- 

 tracted with the right. 



The little captive showed no fight nor did he try to escape so 

 long as I held him by the feet, in an upright position. But when 

 his body was clasped he would struggle vigorously. With all the 

 handling I gave him in taking weights and measures, the only 

 wounding he caused ni}' hands was made in his attempts to secure 

 a better grasp of my holding hand. While not actually tame, from 

 the first he showed ecstatic delight in my stroking of the feathers 

 on the back of his head, — chirping delightedly during the pro- 

 cess, with much the manner and voice of a chicken when tucked 

 under the maternal wing. 



While spending his first night of captivity in my study, pend- 

 ing careful examination, he dropped upon my book-cases several 

 casts, which are still awaiting analysis. At noon of the second 



