Familiar Studies of Wild Birds 



another gasp, at last, a choking cry. The 

 amazing range of noises which these owls are 

 capable of emitting is not generally known. 

 On rare occasions, when my presence near 

 their nest has aroused their ire, I have been 

 treated to a recital of variations in hooting, 

 grunting, and muffled mutterings, punctuated 

 by a frequent snapping of beaks, which com- 

 bined to produce an effect altogether startling 

 and gruesome, — far beyond description. 



March 2nd, I also heard the first bluebirds' 

 notes conveying their authoritative message on 

 the south winds. In small groups or pairs 

 they passed during the following days, flutter- 

 ing high in the air, when they struck the lake, 

 as if getting their bearings, and then generally 

 turning westward as they proceeded on their 

 journey. They were still passing during the 

 early days of May, but at this late date were 

 probably simply wandering over the general 

 section in which they intended to settle. With- 



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