MOTTLED TUFTED-OWL. 4O9 



woods, where I have seen it resting- by day, when it 

 seems to be averse from motion. It is in fact nocturnal 

 and crepuscular in its habits, and feeds chiefly on mice 

 and shrews; but I have not examined the stomachs of 

 a sufficient number of individuals to enable me to ascer- 

 tain the extent of its feeding. A young individual 

 which I kept for some time, perched by preference on 

 a narrow or rounded surface, or the edge of a flat one, 

 stood at first with the body inclined, afterwards nearly 

 erect, and in the latter posture slept, keeping its neck, 

 not retracted, but rather extended, its feathers drawn 

 close, and its tufts recumbent. When perched on a 

 narrow surface, such as the back of a chair, it placed 

 the outer toe behind ; but when on a flat surface direct- 

 ed it outwards ; on all occasions it applied the sharp 

 points of its claws against the wood or other substance, 

 which induces me here to remark that one might ex- 

 pect to find the fine tips of those organs more fre- 

 quently injured than they are. When irritated, it 

 raised its plumag-e, threw its body forward, and uttered 

 a sharp cry. It seized its food with its bill, if larg-e 

 transferred it to one of its feet, but if otherwise, re- 

 tained it in the bill. In flying, it carried a small object 

 in its bill, but a larger in its foot. It had the power of 

 closing one eye while the other remained open, and when 

 placed in a strong light, frequently drew the nyctitat- 

 ing membrane over the lighted eye, while the other 

 remained unsheathed, although in general it winked 

 with both simultaneously. The irides contracted un- 

 equally, according to the degree of light ; but it did not 

 dislike the strongest glare, and perched on a gas-burner 

 or on a chair near the window as readily as elsewhere. 

 M m 



