LONG-EARED OWL. 67 



itself with great spirit from the attacks of larger birds, making 

 a ready use of its bill and talons, and when wounded is dan- 

 gerous and resolute. 



The Long- Eared Owl seldom, if ever, takes the trouble 

 to construct a nest of its own ; it seeks shelter amidst ruins 

 and in the accidental hollows of trees, and rests content with 

 the dilapidated nursery of the Crow, the Magpie, that of the 

 Wild Pigeon, of the Buzzard, or even the tufted retreat of the 

 squirrel. True to these habits, Wilson found one of these 

 Owls sitting on her eggs in the deserted nest of the Qua Bird, 

 on the 25th of xVpril, six or seven miles below Philadelphia, in 

 the midst of the gloomy enswamped forest which formed the 

 usual resort of these solitary Herons. So well satisfied was she 

 in fact with her company, and so peaceable, that one of the Quas 

 had a nest in the same tree with the Owl. The young, until 

 nearly fully grown, are grayish white, and roost close together 

 on a large branch during the day, sheltered and hid amidst the 

 thickest foliage ; they acquire their natural color in about fifteen 

 days. Besides mice and rats, this species also preys on field- 

 mice, moles, and beetles. The plaintive cry or hollow moan- 

 ing made by this bird, ^^ clow cloud,'' incessantly repeated 

 during the night, so as to be troublesome where they frequent, 

 is very attractive to the larger birds, who out of curiosity and 

 for persecution assemble around this species when employed 

 as a decoy, and are thus shot or caught by limed twigs. 



This Owl occurs throughout temperate North America, and is a 

 common resident everywhere excepting along the northern limit of 

 its range, where it is less abundant, and appears in summer only. 



