134 GREAT HORNED-OWL. 



rison. He has other nocturnal solos, no less melodious, one of 

 which very strikingly resembles the half-suppressed screams of 

 a person suffocating, or throttled, and cannot fail of being ex- 

 ceedingly entertaining to a lonely benighted traveller, in the 

 midst of an Indian wilderness. 



This species inhabits the country round Hudson's Bay; and, 

 according to Pennant, who considers it a mere variety of the 

 Eagle Owl, (Strix bubo) of Europe, is found in Kamtschatka; 

 extends even to the arctic regions, where it is often found white; 

 and occurs as low as Astrakan. It has also been seen white in 

 the United States; but this has doubtless been owing to disease 

 or natural defect, and not to climate. It preys on young rab- 

 bits, squirrels, rats, mice, Partridges, and small birds of various 

 kinds. It has been often known to prowl about the farm-house, 

 and carry off chickens from the roost. A very large one, wing- 

 broken while on a foraging excursion of this kind, was kept 

 about a house for several days, and at length disappeared, no 

 one knew how. Almost every day after this, hens and chic- 

 kens also disappeared, one by one, in an unaccountable man- 

 ner, till in eight or ten days very few were left remaining. 

 The fox, the minx and weasel, were alternately the reputed 

 authors of this mischief, until one morning, an old lady, rising 

 before day to bake, in passing towards the oven, surprized her 

 late prisoner the Owl, regaling himself on the body of a newly 

 killed hen. The thief instantly made for his hole under the 

 house, whence the enraged matron soon dislodged him with 

 the brush-handle, and without mercy despatched him. In this 

 snug retreat were found the greater part of the feathers, and 

 many large fragments, of her whole family of chickens. 



There is something in the character of the Owl so recluse, 

 solitary and mysterious, something so discordant in the tones 

 of its voice, heard only amid the silence and gloom of night, 

 and in the most lonely and sequestered situations, as to have 

 strongly impressed the minds of mankind in general with sen- 

 sations of awe, and abhorrence of the whole tribe. The poets 

 have indulged freely in this general prejudice; and in their de- 



