1890.] Bolles, Barred Owls in Captivity. IOC 



piecemeal until only the well-picked skeleton remained. This 

 was done in August, 1889. Small green snakes were seized by 

 their middle and swallowed doubled, while still writhing. 



Generally fresh meat is greatly preferred to that which is stale. 

 I have seen both Owls retire in disgust to the top of their cage 

 when some thoroughly offensive liver was offered them. On the 

 other hand they devoured the skinned carcass of a Broad-winged 

 Hawk when it was in almost as advanced a stage of decay, and 

 once recently, when I placed a piece of luminous kidney in their 

 closet at night, Puffy instantly pounced upon it. I have no doubt 

 from other experiments that the light of the decaying meat, and 

 not its smell, was what attracted him. 



On one occasion I found a large number of mice in a barrel of 

 excelsior. Carefully taking out most of the packing, I placed 

 Puffy in the bottom of the barrel. The mice spun round him in 

 confusing circles, but with great coolness he caught one after 

 another until nineteen were disposed of. The Owls between 

 them ate the entire number within six hours. Puffy is also ex- 

 pert in catching and killing chipmunks, when placed with them 

 in a barrel. After seeing one or two let out of a box trap for his 

 benefit, the sight of the trap was enough to bring him to the door 

 of the cage ready to act as executioner. The junction of the head 

 and body of a vertebrate is the point always chosen for the first 

 effective use of the beak. The struggles of a dying victim seem 

 to cause a certain cat-like excitement and pleasure. 



During the warm months the Owls require food daily, and in 

 considerable quantities. As cold weather comes on, their demands 

 grow more moderate, and in midwinter they eat little and seem 

 drowsy most of the time. Once or twice I have failed to feed 

 them for nearly a week after giving them a hearty ration. In 

 summer, when fed frequently, and on mixed animal food, they 

 often eject from their throats round pellets made up of the bones, 

 hair, feathers, or other undigested portions of their preceding 

 meal. Once or twice these ejections have been extremely offen- 

 sive in odor. When hungry the owls betray the fact by whining 

 cries. "When fed, if both secure a hold on the first piece of liver, 

 a spirited tug of war ensues, wings, beak, free foot, and tail all 

 being used to gain ground. During such a scrimmage a queer 

 chattering with an undertone of angry whining is kept up, but I 

 never have seen either bird attempt to wound or really injure the 



