118 HISTORY OF 



concealed in some obscure retreat, suited to their 

 gloomy appetites, and there continue in soli- 

 tude and silence. The cavern of a rock, the 

 darkest part of a hollow tree, the battlements of 

 a ruined and unfrequented castle, some obscure 

 hole in a farmer's out-house, are the places 

 where they are usually found : if they be seen 

 out of these retreats, in the day-time, they may 

 be considered as having lost their way, as having 

 by some accident been thrown into the midst of 

 their enemies, and surrounded with danger. 



Having spent the day in their retreat, at the 

 approach of evening they sally forth, and skim 

 rapidly up and down along the hedges. The 

 barn owl, indeed, who lives chiefly upon mice, 

 is contented to be more stationary : he takes his 

 residence upon some shock of corn, or the point 

 of some old house, and there watches in the 

 dark, with the utmost perspicacity and perse- 

 verance. 



Nor are these birds by any means silent ; they 

 all have a hideous note, which, while pursuing 

 their prey, is seldom heard, but may be con- 

 sidered rather as a call to courtship. There is 

 something always terrifying in this call, which is 

 often heard in the silence of midnight, and breaks 

 the general pause with a horrid variation. It is 

 different in all, but in each it is alarming and 

 disagreeable. Father Kircher, who has set the 

 voices of birds to music, has given all the tones 

 of the owl note, which makes a most tremendous 

 melody. Indeed, the prejudices of mankind are 

 united with their sensations to make the cry of 



