252 ' Sketches of Some Common Birds. 



GEEAT HOENED OWL. 



The study of the birds of this interesting group should 

 be begun in the late winter, when the mournful "tull-uU- 

 loo " of the screech owl is heard in the apple tree near 

 our kitchen door, and the " who-who-hoo-hoo " of the 

 horned owl is wafted to the ears of the residents of the 

 wooded regions. With the rapid clearing of the forests 

 from the borders of the smaller water-courses of this sec- 

 tion, the great horned owls have ceased to be abundant, 

 and in this locality are met only occasionallj^. I know 

 of only one pair dwelling at present in my home town- 

 ship. Their home is in a thirty-acre tract of timber bor- 

 dering a shallow creek, and they are so harassed by hunt- 

 ers and crows that life is surely a burden to them. How- 

 ever, food is abundant, for the tract still harbors squirrels 

 and other vermin, and therefore 1 suppose they are con- 

 tent to remain. 



While tramping over this wooded tract one fall, I daily 

 startled one or both of these owls from their morning naps. 

 They see well in the daytime, and do not seem incon- 

 venienced by the light, though their movements among 

 the trees are rather uncertain. If they are pursued, a 

 bare limb above the middle point of a large tree gener- 

 ally attracts them for a new perch, and the lowest point 

 of their flight is reached just before alighting. AYhen 

 quiet again prevails, they seek a retreat either in a hollow 

 tree or among the branches of a bushy tree, the latter 

 being commonly preferred. As night approaches, they 

 leave their resting-places and fly forth with strong flight 

 in wide circles over the treetops, shrinking from no 

 enemy, and fearlesc^y manifesting their powerful rapacious 

 natures. 



For birds which are popularly supposed to doze during 

 the day, these owls are remarkably wakeful and wary. 

 It was a difficult matter to surprise either of this surviving 

 pair of owls, and seldom could I approach within easy 

 observation of them. The moment one was flushed, a 

 noisy pack of crows would start in hot pursuit. When 

 the owl alighted the crows would perch on all sides 



