66 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 



times sails low and swiftly over the fields, or through the woods, 

 in search of small birds, field-mice, moles, or wood-rats, from which 

 it chiefly derives its subsistence. On alighting, which it does 

 plumply, the Mottled Owl immediately bends its body, turns its 

 head to look behind it, performs a curious nod, utters its notes, 

 then shakes and plumes itself, and resumes its flight in search of 

 prey. It now and then, while on the wing, produces a clicking 

 sound with its mandibles, but more frequently when perched near 

 its mate or young. This I have thought was done by the bird to 

 manifest its courage, and let the hearer know that it is not to be 

 meddled with ; although few birds of prey are more gentle when 

 seized, as it will suffer a person to touch its feathers and caress it 

 without attempting to bite or strike with its talons, unless at rare 

 intervals. 



" The notes of this Owl are uttered in a tremulous, doleful 

 manner, and somewhat resemble the chattering of the teeth of a 

 person under the influence of extreme cold, although much louder. 

 They are heard at a distance of several hundred yards, and by 

 some people are thought to be of ominous import." 



These notes almost exactly resemble the whimpering 

 whine of a small dog, for which I have mistaken them on 

 different occasions. 



"The little fellow is generally found about farm-houses, or- 

 chards, and gardens. It alights on the roof, the fence, or the 

 garden-gate, and utters its mournful ditty, at intervals, for hours at 

 a time, as if it were in a state of great suffering ; although this is 

 far from being the case, the song of all birds being an indication 

 of content and happiness. In a state of confinement, it utters its 

 notes with as much satisfaction as if at liberty. They are chiefly . 

 heard during the latter part of winter, that being the season of 

 love, when the male bird is particularly attentive to the fair one 

 which excites his tender emotions, and around which he flies and 

 struts much in the manner of the common Pigeon, adding numer- 

 ous nods and bows, the sight of which is very amusing. 



" The young remain in the nest until they are able to fly. At 

 first, they are covered with a downy substance of a dull yellowish- 

 white. By the middle of August, they are fully feathered, and 



