ir.x LIFE-HISTORIKS OF BIRDS 



what curious appellation of Monkey-Owl. These movements 

 are most frequent and most strikingly emphasized when in 

 the presence of human beings. That they are natural to the 

 species in its accustomed haunts, although considerably more 

 subdued, we have every reason to believe, having often been 

 placed under circumstances which enabled us to study them 

 to a fine advantage. 



\Yith its large ogre eyes staring you boldly and unflinch- 

 ingly in the face, it will rotate the head from side to side, 

 then up and down after the fashion of nodding ; and ever 

 and anon, as if to show its utter disgust for man. will ruffle 

 the feathers about the neck, and, with a hissing sound and 

 clicking jaws, rush towards the bars of the cage, which it 

 will seize, and twist as if to wrench them asunder. After 

 a brief period, it relaxes its hold and relapses into its 

 former movements, occasionally varying them by a few 

 blinking movements of the eyelids, uttering all the while its 

 characteristic clicking sounds. When it becomes accustomed 

 to its keeper, it will perform the most uncouth antics in his 

 presence ; climbing about the bars of the cage which it 

 clutches by its feet after the manner of parrots ; hanging 

 thereon often by one foot alone, or with the assistance of the 

 bill ; thrusting the latter through the interstices of the cage to 

 receive the proffered meat, and even clutching it with the 

 feet. We have seen it, while standing in the rear of its 

 house, catch every piece of meat that was thrown to it 

 through the bars, with all the adroitness of an animal train- 

 ed to this diversion, seldom, if ever, failing to accomplish 

 the difficult task, even when the pieces were frequently 

 thrown to one side or the other, beyond its natural reach. 

 Pieces that have come too short of the mark, or that have 

 overreached it, have been caught with equal dexterity. 

 On these occasions, all kinds of fresh meat were eaten 

 indiscriminately, although there seemed to be a decided pref- 

 erence for thebodies of small birds and mammals. The bones 

 of the latter were broken in pieces sufficiently small to be 



