iSg?-] BOLLES, Barred O-vh in Captivity. 102 



of a plucked pigeon, the color of a Crow, and a dismal object to 

 look upon. His eyes at such times would stand out from his 

 drenched and drizzling feathers in a most unpleasant way. This 

 habit of bathing has been maintained in all weathers and tem- 

 peratures. I have seen both birds take their plunges on mornings 

 w hen the mercury outdoors was not more than io° F. On such 

 occasions they shiver for hours before drying. After washing, 

 it is their habit to preen each feather in their wings and tails with 

 great care and precision. 



During the summer and autumn of iSSS, and at intervals since, 

 I have tried various experiments in feeding the Owls. They 

 reject all vegetable substances with the possible exception of 

 cooked oatmeal, although they will sometimes play with ap- 

 ples, grape leaves, fresh twigs, corn silk and husks, tearing 

 them up solely for amusement apparently, and flinging fragments 

 in all directions. Mice they consider a rare treat, and they swal- 

 low them without hesitation, head foremost. With birds they 

 are equally pleased, but if one is larger than a Redstart they are 

 quite sure to crush the skull, sometimes eating the head separate- 

 ly, then to pull out the stiff feathers, and after feeling of the wing 

 joints, to swallow head foremost. A Hermit Thrush thus pre- 

 pared is about the limit of their single swallowing power. They 

 sometimes, especially with larger birds, devour the contents of 

 the abdominal cavity before swallowing the trunk. When an 

 appetizing mouthful has been started on its downward journey 

 the expression of gluttonous enjoyment thrown into their half- 

 closed eyes and distended mouths is something beyond words. 

 One seems to see them taste the morsel all the way down ! If 

 a mouthful sticks at first, they jerk their bodies up and down with 

 considerable force, literally ramming it in by concussion. Some- 

 times the tail of a Warbler thus being lost to sight, remains in one 

 corner of the Owl's mouth. The Owl's practice then is to turn 

 his head towards it far enough to twist the unwilling feathers into 

 the middle of his tongue, and then to swallow violently, always 

 with effect. 



\Yith"~great interest in the result I placed nine live perch and 

 bream in the Owls' tank one morning when they were about three 

 months old. The}' had never seen fish before. As the light 

 played upon the red fins and bright scales, the birds' excitement 

 was amusing to see. In a very short time, however, thev plunged 



