HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



319 





VIRGINIAN HORNED OWL. 



cries so well described by Wilson, it moves its body, 

 and particularly its head, in various grotesque ways, 

 and at intervals violently snaps its bill. Its food 

 consists of various gallinaceous birds, half-grown tur- 

 keys, domestic poultry of all kinds, ducks, grouse, 

 hares, opossums, and squirrels ; and whenever chance 

 throws a dead fish on the shore, this bird feeds on it 



