'zSo Reed, Notes on the American Barn Owl. Tq^^^ 



the Owl. Fearing, if liberated, she might not return to the nest 

 through fright, I concluded to take her home with me and keep 

 her in captivity for a few days, with a view of studying her habits. 

 A large box with a wired front was soon arranged and she was 

 put into it. Here she was kept for three days, but absolutely 

 refused food or water left her, which so preyed upon my feelings 

 that I took compassion on her and set her at liberty. The day 

 following her capture she laid an egg, which was carefully removed 

 with a stick. When I approached her box she would retire to 

 the farthest corner, open her mouth wide and emit a most piercing 

 hissing cry as if from fright, which had a tendency to stand my 

 hair on end. During the next two years after this experience, I 

 occasionally visited the tree with the hopes of finding it occupied, 

 but owing to the building of several houses in the vicinity by a 

 land company, the poor Owls had no peace, and the tree was 

 finally cut down. 



From the experience of others with these Owls in captivity, I 

 feel satisfied that the male birds are more easily domesticated 

 than the females. 



On two different occasions I took pleasure in escorting some of 

 the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club members to this nest. 

 The first time, being accompanied by Mr. Witmer Stone, the birds 

 were absent, but the finding of three fresh mice in the nest was 

 evidence of its being occupied. Mr. Stone robbed the poor birds 

 of two of these for his collection. On the other occasion Messrs. 

 W. L. Baily and G. S. Morris were escorted to Tinicum on an 

 evening train ; Mr. Baily was selected as the victim to climb the 

 tree first to flush the Owls, as both male and female were mostly 

 found together in this nest, the cavity being of sufficient size to 

 accommodate both of them. The flushing of Owls in this manner 

 is a very delicate performance, and on such occasions it is well to 

 wear a mackintosh, as they generally leave the nest in the manner 

 of a Green Heron ; but Mr. Baily fared very well, and we 

 clambered up after him and took our positions about the hole for 

 investigation. Among the refuse of the nest an egg was dis- 

 covered, completely hidden from view ; a mouse or two were also 

 probed out. After the Owls left the nest on this, as well as on 

 previous occasions, they were attacked by numerous Crows. 



