I, si LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



dent habits. At the age of four weeks, the young are able 

 to leave the nest, and receive their food while clinging to the 

 tree-branches. At the expiration of a fortnight, they arc 

 able to hunt for them selves v but retire on the approach of 

 morning into their burrows, where they quietly spend the 

 dav. But they are eventually obliged to leave these 

 retreats and seek quarters for themselves in hollow trees ; in 

 the gloomy recesses of dense forests ; or in the dark corners of 

 outbuildings. In about four months they acquire the char- 

 acteristic plumage of their parents, and their familiar outcries. 

 But the claws have scarcely attained their normal develop- 

 ment until nearly two months subsequently. 



Under confinement, this species is at first exceedingly pet- 

 ulant, and attempts to injure its captor ; but after a few days 

 of friendly intercourse, learns to recognize in him a bene- 

 fac, or. Confidence soon gives place to distrust, and it 

 becomes exceedingly tame and docile, accepting its food 

 from the hands of its keepers with perfect complacency. 

 Should a stranger attempt the same familiarity, he would 

 either receive a merited rebuke in the shape of a scratch, or be 

 treated with the most perfect disgust. 



A somewhat singular fact in connection with its history 

 is mentioned by Dr. Cooper. He cites the case of a bird 

 which once resided in a dove-cot in perfect harmony with 

 its inmates, whom it did not attempt to injure from the per- 

 iod of its first introduction. 



The eggs of this species are nearly spherical, of a pure 

 white color, and measure 1.35 inches in length, and 1.18 in 

 width. 



Otus vulgaris, var. wilsonianus, Less. 



The Long-eared Owl is quite generally distributed, and is 

 the most numerous of all our North American Strigidae* 

 Dr. Cooper has found it quite common in California, although 

 previous writers failed to encounter it. According to Don- 

 ald Gunn it is a permanent resident in the Red River region, 



