EAGLE OWL. 295 



like those of all the Owls we are acquainted with, 

 and of a rounded form. 



In confinement this bird is easily kept, and 

 becomes to a certain extent acquainted with its 

 keeper, or those immediately near it. One which 

 we kept for some years excited much interest, 

 and we shall again transcribe our note on its 

 manners. " An Eagle Owl in my possession 

 remains quiet during the day, unless he is shewn 

 some prey, when he becomes eager to possess 

 it; and when it is put within his reach, at 

 once clutches it, and retires to a corner to devour 

 at leisure. During the night he is extremely 

 active, and sometimes keeps up an incessant bark ; 

 it is so similar to that of a cur or terrier, as to 

 annoy a large Labrador house-dog, who expressed 

 his dissatisfaction by replying to him, and disturb- 

 ing the inmates nightly. I at first also mistook 

 the cry for that of a dog, and without any recol- 

 lection of the Owl, sallied forth to silence the 

 disturber of our repose, and it was not until tracing 

 the noise to the cage that I became satisfied of the 

 author of our annoyance. I have remarked that 

 he barks more incessantly during a clear night in 

 winter than at any other time ; and the thin air at 

 that season makes the cry very distinctly heard to 

 a considerable distance. This, however, is not 

 the only call ; when much annoyed either at some 

 stranger, or the appearance of any larger animal. 



