1 82 THE BIRDS ABOUT Us. 



May it not be that they are really more plentiful than 

 we suppose, especially in pine woods or dense cedar 

 swamps ? 



The Screech-owl, or Red Owl, or Little Gray Owl, 

 may be said to be semi-domesticated, and it is about 

 the only one that comes to town and makes its home 

 in the larger shade-trees, or the spire of some church 

 that is without a bell. In the country a hole in some 

 apple-tree, or a large cavity that was once a clean-cut 

 woodpecker's nest, is the bird's usual home, and 

 here it remains until dusk, when it comes out click- 

 ing its bill with a snap like the cocking of a pistol, and 

 then looking about, mutters the melancholy tu-whoo- 

 hoo-ho-ho-ho, the ending of it a most doleful quaver. 



As to its food, mice of course largely supply that, 

 but this owl has a fancy, too, for squabs, and can 

 clean out a dove-cot if so inclined. But for this it 

 would be as harmless as the Acadian owl or " Saw- 

 whet," as it is sometimes called. 



Audubon says of the little red owl, " This little 

 fellow is generally found about farm-houses, orchards, 

 and gardens. It alights on the roof, the fence, or the 

 garden-gate, and utters its mournful ditty." I once 

 knew it to go a little nearer to civilization, and with 

 tragic result. The owl went into the terra-cotta cap 

 of the chimney and on down until it reached a stove- 

 pipe hole, and then into the pipe to the crook of an 

 " elbow," and there it rested. Some time after a fire 

 was started in the stove and it " smoked" to some 

 purpose, and the cause was only ascertained by a 

 violent trembling of the pipe and a chattering that 

 would have founded a ghost story years ago. When 



