350 LAND-BIRDS. 



active, often uttering their cries, which may be heard at all 

 hours of the night until early morning, though never, so far as 

 I know, in the day. They search the woods, fields, meadows, 

 and often the neighborhood of houses and barns, now gliding 

 like a shadow near the ground, or among the trees, and now 

 perching to call to their mates or companions. They feed upon 

 mice, various insects (many of which they catch upon the 

 wing), and occasionally small birds. They are probably bene- 

 ficial to the farmer, like some other Owls, who differ in this 

 respect from the Hawks. Our night Owls, though aided by 

 very keen sight, and by a flight so silent that their presence is 

 often indicated only by their shadow, undoubtedly find it 

 more difficult to obtain birds at roost than other creatures who 

 betray themselves by moving. The Screech Owls as pets ex- 

 hibit many of those traits, more or less characteristic of their 

 whole family, which are less easily observed in the birds at 

 liberty. I shall therefore quote from the " American Natu- 

 ralist " an extremely interesting article by Mr. Maynard, on 

 " The Mottled Owl in Confinement," from which, however, I 

 am reluctantly obliged to omit several passages. He says : 



"On June 15, 1867, I observed some boys around a small 

 Owl which was perched on a stick. On closer examination I 

 found that it was a young Mottled Owl (Scops asio Bona- 

 parte). It was staring about in a dazed manner and seemed 

 half stupefied. I easily persuaded the boys to part with it for 

 a trifle, and took it home. I should judge that it was about 

 two weeks old. 121 It was covered with a grayish down. I 

 put it in a large cage, and gave it some meat which it ate, but 

 not readily, for it seemed frightened at the sight of my hand, 

 and at my near approach would draw back, snapping its beak 

 after the manner of all Owls. It soon grew tamer, however, 

 and would regard me with a wise stare, as if perfectly under- 

 standing that I was a friend. 



" In a short time it would take food from me without fear ; 

 I never saw it drink, although water was kept constantly near 

 it. Its food consisted of mice, birds, and butcher's meat, on 



121 This fact renders it probable that this species sometimes rears a second 

 brood. 



