THE VIRGINIAN EARED OWL. 83 



in his well-known "Field Sports," gives the following description of the Eagle Owl as it 

 appears in the Scandinavian forests. 



"These Owls, Dr. Mellerborg assured me, will sometimes destroy dogs. Indeed, he him- 

 self once knew an instance of the kind. He states another circumstance, showing the ferocity 

 of these birds, which came Tinder his notice. Two men were in the forest for the purpose of 

 getting berries, when one of them happening to approach near to the nest of the Owl, she 

 pounced on him while he was in the act of stooping, and fixing her talons in his back, wounded 

 him very severely. His companion, however, was fortunately near at hand, who, catching up 

 a stick, lost no time in destroying the furious bird. 



"Mr. Nilsson states that these Owls not unfrequently engage in combat with the eagle 

 himself, and that they often come off victorious. These powerful and voracious birds, that 

 gentleman remarks, occasionally kill the fawns of the stag, roebuck, and reindeer. The largest 

 of the birds common to the Scandinavian forests, such as the capercali, often become their 

 prey. The hooting of these Owls may often be heard during the night-time in the northern 

 forests ; the sound, which is a most melancholy one, and which has given rise to many super- 

 stitions, is audible at a long distance." This bird is also most invaluable in destroying the 

 lemmings. 



The cry of the Eagle Owl is a very deep and doleful note, sounding most lugubriously in 

 the depth of the lonely forests during the hours of night. When angry, the bird utters a 

 sharp hiss, not unlike the sound which is produced by the common brown Owl when irritated. 

 It is generally seen during the twilight hours, although it sometimes continues to search after 

 prey during the entire night. While engaged in hunting, it flies low over the ground, and 

 displays great quickness of eye and wing in discerning and pouncing upon everything that has 

 life and can be eaten. This bird has been employed for the purpose of decoying falcons towards 

 the snare, by being fastened in a convenient spot where it can be seen by any passing bird. 

 The falcon cannot possibly resist the pleasure of dashing at the great, solemn, winking bird, 

 and is accordingly captured in the fowler's ready net as he swoops after the Owl, which runs 

 for refuge precisely in the direction of the toils. 



The length of this fine bird is rather more than two feet, and the aspect of its outstretched 

 wings is wonderfully magnificent. The general color of the Eagle Owl is brown, mingled with 

 a yellow tinge, and covered on the upper surface with bars, dashes, and streaks of blackish- 

 brown. The facial disc is pale brown, decorated with many small spots of black, and the 

 under surface of the body is nearly yellow, traversed by longitudinal stripes of black upon 

 the chest, and barred transversely with many bars of dark brown on the abdomen. The legs 

 and thighs are pale brown, with many narrow bars of a darker hue. The long armed claws 

 are black, and the beak is also nearly black. The eyes are of a bright radiant orange, and 

 have a very fierce appearance when the bird looks the spectator in the face. The female is 

 rather larger than the male, the difference in length being about four inches. 



THE VIRGINIAN EARED OWL holds the same place in America as the eagle Owl in Europe, 

 and is even now a familiar bird, though it has been extirpated from many localities where it 

 once reigned supreme. 



It is a very large bird, nearly equalling the great Owl in magnitude, and being in no way 

 its inferior in strength or courage. This species is found spread over the greatest portion of 

 North America, and in former days did great damage among the poultry of the agriculturists, 

 being a bold as well as a voracious bird. Now, however, the ever-ready rifle of the farmer has 

 thinned its numbers greatly, and has inspired the survivors with such awe, that they mostly 

 keep clear of cxiltivated lands, and confine themselves to seeking after their legitimate prey. 



The Virginian Eared or Horned Owl is a terrible destroyer of game, snatching up grouse, 

 partridges, hares, ducks, sparrows, squirrels, and many other furred and feathered creatures, 

 and not unfrequently striving after larger quarry. The wild turkey is a favorite article of diet 

 with this Owl ; but on account of the extreme wariness of the turkey nature, the depredator 

 finds an unseen approach to be no easy matter. The usual mode in which the Owl catches the 

 turkey is, to find out a spot where its intended prey is quietly sleeping at night, and then to 



