10 



THE OOLOGIST. 



Horned Owls' nests in Kalamazoo coun- 

 ty, unless stated otherwise: 



April 27, 1886. Ne-it in large ash 

 about 60 feet up, containing two young 

 birds nearly I'eady to leave. Parts of 

 moles and feathers of partridge in nest. 



Apr. 9, '88. Nest iii large oak near 

 lake. Three young birds about two 

 weeks old. 



Apr. 24, '88. Nest in cavity of large 

 elm at Parkville, St. Joseph Co. Two 

 young birds in down. Chicken feathers 

 numerous in cavity. 



Apr. 2, 'b9. Lai'ge nest in top of oak. 

 Two young birds. Remains of two 

 Robins and one rabbit. Ne3t nicely 

 lined with leaves and Owl's feathers. 



Apr. 4, '8). Ntst m large ash in 

 •swamp. Two birds nearly rea'lj^ to 

 leave nest. 



May 5, '89. Nest iu large oak. Woods 

 near brook. Two young Inrds silting 

 on edge of nest. 



Feb. 25, 189J. Nest of a few sticks 

 and dead leaves, in large bass-wood iu 

 deep woods, fvvo eggs, advanced iu 

 iucubatiou. 



Feb. 26, '90. Large nest iu top of 

 o.ik. Nieelj' lined with owl's feathers. 

 Three eggs; fi'esh. 



March 1. '90, Nest in large oak, in 

 woods. Two eggs; nearly fresh. 



Feb. 21, 91. Nest iu oak; nearly hid- 

 den from view. Two eggs; incubation 

 advanced. 



Feb. 28. '91. Two eg^s; nearly fresh. 

 Large sycamore in woods. Nicely lined 

 •with corn husks and owl's feathers. 



Feb. 23, '91. Two young birds in 

 <down; cavity of oak. Nest a rather, 

 deep cavity in decayed wood; dead 

 leaves and owl's feathers. 



Feb. 23, 1892. Two eggs, from nest 

 in large elm. Advanced in incubation. 

 Nest nicely lined with moss and feath- 

 ers. 



Feb. 26, 1893. Three eggs, fresh. 

 Nest in cavity of dead beech. Martin, 

 Allegan Co., Partridge feathers and re- 

 mains ot rabbit in cavitj'. 



I have reail two or three times that 

 the Owls and Red-tailed Havvks often 

 occupied the saui3 nest in turn each 

 season. This is nonsense; for if the 

 Owl's eggs were laid Feb.20.th the young 

 would not leave the nest beforeMay 1st, 

 if as soon as that. This would hardly 

 meet the requirements of the Hawk. 



The Horned Owl is an excellent pro- 

 vider for his young and the variety of 

 game and poultry which is brought in 

 shows this marauder to be a pest in the 

 neighborhood . 



My friend Willhelm had two Horned 

 Owls which he took alive from the nest 

 when they were half size and in the, 

 half downy plumage. He kept Ihiem 

 from year to year in a pen in the yard. 

 They never seemed to suffer from the 

 cold and generally seemed contented. 

 In the early spi'ing months they were 

 slightly restless, but refnseil to con- 

 struct a nest and lay, although material 

 for a nest was given them. Meat and 

 fish was their entire food and the num- 

 ber of bodies of skinned birds ■which 

 they have devoured is past belief. 



These Owls, raised from the nest in 

 confinement, never had a chance to 

 search for food, or to roam at liberty, 

 and yet, although they were gentle and 

 enjoyed being stroked, and emited glad 

 cries at the sight of their master, still 

 they poossessed the traits of ferocity 

 and only vaited an opportunity to 

 show theii" true disposititons. 



The chance came one night when es- 

 cape was possible. Instead of tlj'ing to 

 the woods they immediately entered a 

 neighbors hen roost less than sixty rods 

 distant whei'e they mangled and killed 

 twelve to fifteen chickens, oue being a 

 game cock, in a short time. 



On hearing the uproar the owner of 

 the hen House appeared and slew the 

 male and closed the door on the fe- 

 male*. And now this savage bird is 



* Mr. Willhelm says he i.s not sure that the 

 birds were male and female and is inclined to 

 think tnat they were both males, foimdinf; his 

 belief on the fact that both birds hooted at 

 times. 



