SPECIES 4. STRIX FLAMMED. 



WHITE, OR BARN OWL. 



[Plate L. Fig. 2.] 



LATH, i, 138. Jlrct. ZooL p. 235, ,Vo. 124. Phil 7Vns. in, 

 \58.-UEffraie, ou la Fresaie, BUFF, i, 366, pi. 26. PL enl. 

 440. BEWICK'S British Birds, i, p. 89. Common Owl, TURT. 

 Syst.p, 170. -PEALE'S Museum, JVo. 486. 



THIS Owl, though so common in Europe, is rare in this part 

 of the United States; and is only found here during very severe 

 winters. This may possibly be owing to the want of those fa- 

 vourite recesses, which it so much affects in the eastern conti- 

 nent. The multitudes of old ruined castles, towers, monaste- 

 ries and cathedrals, that every where rise to view in those 

 countries, are the chosen haunts of this well known species. Its 

 savage cries at night give, with vulgar minds, a cast of super- 

 natural horror to those venerable mouldering piles of antiquity. 

 This species, being common to both continents, doubtless ex- 

 tends to the arctic regions. It also inhabits Tartary, where, 

 according to Pennant, " the Monguls and natives almost pay it 

 divine honours, because they attribute to this species the pre- 

 servation of the founder of their empire, Cinghis Khan. That 

 prince, with his small army, happened to be surprised and put 

 to flight by his enemies, and forced to conceal himself in a little 

 coppice: an Owl settled on the bush under which he was hid, 

 and induced his pursuers not to search there, as they thought it 

 impossible that any man could be concealed in a place where 

 that bird would perch. From thenceforth they held it to be 

 sacred, and every one wore a plume of the feathers of this spe- 

 cies on his head. To this day the Kalmucs continue the custom 



