Vol. XIVj Reed, Notes on the American Barn OvjI. 377 



the carcass of a Horned Owl, Curlew, Barn Owl, or any othe'r 

 food from about his workshop, was used. 



The manner of preparing the food before swallowing it is also 

 very interesting. The mammal or bird, as the case may be, if 

 alive, is killed by piercing or crushing the base of the skull 

 between the mandibles ; when a bird, the longest and stiffest 

 wing and tail feathers are plucked with its beak ; if of the size of a 

 Sparrow it is swallowed whole, always head first ; if of the size of a 

 Catbird, Thrush, or Robin, it is torn apart before devouring. 



As Mr. Voelker took pleasure in assisting his pet to prepare 

 its food in proper doses, it always relied on his judgment as to 

 the size and shape of the morsel. I was amused during one of 

 these operations, when he was feeding him a Catbird, just shot. 

 He gave the helpless Owl a leg, with the thigh and adjoining 

 portions attached, expecting him to swallow it whole ; this of 

 course with great exertion he endeavored to do, but the thigh end 

 going down his throat, the tarsus stuck crosswise, the foot pro- 

 truding from the corner of his mouth. When I insisted, Mr. 

 Voelker relieved him by pulling it up again and breaking the 

 bones for him. He never showed any desire to gorge himself, 

 but often refused to notice food after having eaten a small bird. 

 The pellets were always ejected before another meal was eaten, 

 and could be disgorged at will, which was shown when he was 

 offered a tempting piece of food. In doing this he would bow his 

 head against the breast and shake it from side to side in a very 

 dejected manner, then straightening himself up would endeavor 

 to cast it off as if with a very repulsive feeling, as though it had 

 a bitter taste, or was not a pleasant duty. In this manner, with 

 widely distended mouth, it was thrown out with force enough to 

 carry it twelve to eighteen inches from him. These pellets were 

 often only partly digested, which may account for the unusual 

 effort required at times. When remaining in his presence or 

 when disturbed, he kept up a continual cry resembling that of a 

 squab pigeon. 



The tameness of this Owl may seem almost incredible ; he could 

 always be found in Mr. Voelker's company, either alongside of 

 him or on his arm or shoulder. When engaged at his taxidermic 

 work he would have to place a stuffed companion alongside of 



48 



