BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 155 



with its bill the skin about the head and neck, would swallow the whole 

 mass, always, I think, head foremost. When it fed on small birds 

 which were frequently shot and placed in its box but which it would 

 seldom touch, I noticed that it generally tore open the skull and ate the 

 brain substance. This owl would never drink water. 



"The flight of the Mottled Owl is smooth, rapid, protracted and 

 noiseless. It rises at times above the top branches of the highest of 

 our forest trees whilst in pursuit of large beetles ; and at other 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 subsistance. Sometimes 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." 



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

 numerous nods and bows, the sight of which is very amusing." Audubon. 



The following interesting account of the methods employed by an 

 enthusiastic oologist is taken from a letter written to me, October, 1889, 

 by Mr. O. B. Hark, of Bethlehem : " Have you ever heard of fixing 

 holes for Sparrow Hawks and Screech Owls 1 Mr. John Mack, the best 

 climber I ever met, every spring cleans out old holes, enlarges such as 

 are too small, etc., and finds it pays him well ; this spring he got ninety 

 Sparrow Hawk eggs and every one was taken out of holes fixed by him ; 

 at one time he put the leg of an old rubber boot in a hollow tree and 



