114 TWENTIETH CENTURY CLASSICS 



XXXVI.— SCREECH OWL, 



Megascops asio (Linn.). 



Resident; abundant. Begin laying early in March. 

 , Habitat. Temperate eastern Xortli America ; south to 

 Georgia and west to the Great Plains. 



Iris yellow; bill, cere and claws Jight greenish horn 

 color. 



This is one of our most abundant and well-known night 

 Owls. It inhabits alike the woods and the habitations of 

 man. Its food consists of mice, small birds, insects, etc. ; 

 in searching for the same, it flies noiselessly but actively 

 about, occasionally capturing its prey upon the wing, but 

 usually pouncing upon it. These birds are ratlier easily 

 tamed. 



When a small boy, in my old 'New England liome, I 

 reared one from the nest, that was quite attractive, and, as 

 I was the only one that fed or cared for it, it became 

 strongly attached to me, and, no matter how roughly 

 handled, never showed the least bit of anger; but, upon 

 the approach of a stranger, it would erect its feathers and 

 sharply snap its bill. At the sight of the house cat it was 

 wild w^th fear and rage, and could not be pacified until 

 Thomas was removed. I gave it the liberty of the dark 

 garret beneath the roof of our house, and in the center of 

 the room placed corn, bread and toasted cheese to attract 

 the mice, and, from the ejected pellets of mouse hair, I 

 know that it captured many mice. At night or in a dark 

 place, it would come to me at call, and alight on my arm or 

 hand, take and readily eat insects and small bits of food, 

 but, if the piece was large, would fly with it to its percli 



