OF LANCASTER COUNTY. 505 



ago, which strikinrjly inustiiites tlie great temerity aii.l teriible energy, when 

 aroused, of this powerful and daring bird. An indivi(Uial of tliis siK'cios was 

 seen in pursuit of a wild duck; the doomed victim tried various manmuvres to 

 escape from its fomiidable pursuer, by diving and Hying alternately; when in the 

 air it was soon overtaken, and to escape his cruel talons had again to dive 

 beneath the water; when it arose to the surface he would drive at it like a 

 thunderbolt; the fast failing strength of the poor victim admonished it tliat some 

 other mode of escape must be resorted to — it again arose and (lew directly into 

 the town— her merciless enemy still pursuing— it alighted upon the pavement of 

 the St. John House and ran into the hall; the next moment the eagle swept 

 past the door. The brave duck thus escaped the maw of her feathered foe: but, 

 alas, she fell into the hands of Const. Emswiler, who was not less rai)acious 

 we are sorry to say. Breeds in the county. Specimen, No. G, Mus. Linn. Soc. 



17. Pandion carol inensis, (Gmel.,) Bonnj)., O^n-ey, or Fish Hawk. Feeds upon fish; 



quite common on the Susquehanna; breeds in the count.y Sp'm No. 130, Mus. 

 Linn. Soc. 



Family Strigid^e — The Owls. 



Predatory; feed on small quadrupeds, birds and reptiles. Known No. of species in N. 



A., 17; in the county, 8. 



18. Strix, flammea, Linn.; (S. pratincola, Bonap.,) Common, or Barn Owl. Rather rare; 



feeds upon bats and mice; breeds in the county. The following interesting facts in 

 relation to this species were communicated to me by Prof. S. S- Rathvon: On the 

 10th of July, 1867, a male and female were captured in the steeple of the Lutheran 

 Church, in Lancaster city, where they had domiciliated themselves. Whilst cap- 

 tives they refused all kind of food that was offered. The female laid an egg and the 

 male died, after which the female was set at liberty. After this interruption of 

 their nuptial relations, the female sought another partner, and the pair again 

 established themselves in the steeple. On the 27th of September I visited their 

 quarters; the old birds were absent, but I found two young owls that could not 

 have been more than a day or two old, and four eggs. I took from one of the 

 eggs a living owl, nearly as large as those already hatched. Four weeks after, 1 

 secured one of the young birds, I had left; it was then covered with white down, 

 and had grown from an ounce to a pound in weight and nearly as large as the 

 old ones. This young bird also refused food, and I killed it and had it stufted; 

 and it, together with the old male, are now in the Liniuean Society's Museum. 

 In August, 1868, two young owls, with the pen-feathers just appearing, were 

 taken from the nest. They were very ferocious when captured; but subsequently, 

 under the care of Mr. G. Hensel and his lady, they became docile and playful, 

 and learned to do some very droll things. They would eat meat of ditlerent 

 kind, but refused to eat any part of a fowl, unless deprived of the feathers. 

 In attempting to void a sharp piece of bone, one of them ruptured his gullet, 

 which caused his death, in October. 1808; his companion is still living at the 

 present time, January, 1869, and is iiuite an object of interest and admiration, 

 for his sedate and quaint deportment, and for his personal cleanliness. Sp'ms 

 Nos. 125, 126, Mus. Linn. Soc. 



19. Bubo virginianus, (Omel.,) Bonnp., Great-horned Owl. Rapacious and destructive; 



feeds on poultry and game of all kinds. Sp'm No. Mus. Linn. Soc. 



20. Scops asio, {Linn.,) Bonap. Red Owl, Screech Owl. Common; feeds upon mice, 



small birds and insects; breeds in the county. Sp'm No. 8, 3Ius. Linn. Soc. 



21. Otus wilsonianus, Lesson. Long-eared Owl. Feeds on mice; breeds in the county. 



Sp'm No. 127, Mus. Linn. Soc. 



