AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 293 



OUR ILLINOIS SCREECH OWLS, 



By Isaac E. Hess, Philo. lU. 



As if resenting the prying eyes of the seeker of bird secrets, several 

 of our most interesting birds are of nocturnal habits. Appearing only 

 at dusk, they reverse in practice the old adage presented to precocious 

 children, that they "should be seen and not heard." It meets not with 

 their approval and since the day their kind were liberated from the 

 ancient ark they have persistently followed their own ideas of proper 

 manners. It is theirs to be heard and not seen. 



Included in the list of the lovers of darkness is the little Screech Owl 

 (magascops asio). Unless roughly routed from his hiding place he is 

 never seen in the glare of the noon day sun. In reality a woodland 

 bird, he is quite as much at home in the old apple orchards and maple 

 groves on the farm. And, oddly enough for a timber represenative, he 

 is not averse to living a city life. 



In most of our smaller cities and towns the Screech Owl is a common 

 and constant resident. Taking possession of deserted Woodpecker ex- 

 cavations in the maple stubs, they rear their young as contentedly and 

 securely as do their brethren in the depths of the forest. 



Although seldom seen, little megascops is instantly recognized, 

 especially by the children, and is a marked favorite. It would seem 

 unnatural not to be interested in a bird possessing so many originalities 

 in his make-up. 



One of his interesting personalities is his all-the-year-round song. 

 How aften a sweet bird song is not properly appreciated because in the 

 season of bird melodies, the singer is outclassed by superior perform- 

 ers. In this the wise little Owl verifies his claim to wisdom. He re- 

 serves his best efforts for the long wintry nights when our real songsters 

 are leagues away. Then he plays his part in the "choir invisible" and 

 is satisfied in knowing that his weird tremulous whistle will be heard 

 and appreciated. 



The Screech Owl is not gregarious in habit and you will seldom find 

 more than a single pair in an immediate vicinity. This would seem 

 sufficient cause for associating with him, a quarrelsome disposition, but 

 I would much rather attribute this habit of seclusion to an instinct of 

 self-preservation. Owing to the nature and limitation to his food, he 

 must of necessity provide his own particular foraging grounds. Nature 

 does not always yield him an abundant harvest and as the condition of 

 his larder must depend entirely upon his own resources with an element 

 of chance to be considered, I am afraid megascops must often go hun- 

 gry. He is very particular as to fresh meat for his diet and English 

 Sparrows are delicate morsels under his tongue. For this we love him. 



