100 lUtilOKY Ok' 



size and plumage, agree in their general characteristics of prey- 

 ing by night, and having their eyes formed for nocturnal vision. 

 Their bodies are strong and muscular ; their feet and claws 

 made for tearing their prey ; and their stomachs for digesting it. 

 It must be remarked, however, that the digestion of all birds 

 that live upon mice, lizards, or such like food, is not very per- 

 fect ; for though they swallow them whole, j'et they are always 

 seen some time after to disgorge the skin and bones, rolled up 

 in a pellet, as being indigestible. 



In proportion as each of these animals bears the daylight 

 best, he sets forward earlier in the evening in pursuit of his 

 prey. The great horned owl is the foremost in leaving his re- 

 treat; and ventures into the woods and thickets very soon in the 

 evening. The horned, and the brown owl, are later in their ex- 

 cursions : but the barn-owl seems to see best in profound dark- 

 ness, and seldom leaves his hiding-place till midnight. 



As they are incapable of supporting the light of the day, or 

 at least of then seeing and readily avoiding their danger, they 

 keep all this time concealed in some obscure retreat, suited to 

 their gloomy appetites, and there continue in solitude and si- 

 lence. The cavern of a rock, the darkest part of a hollow tree, 

 the battlements of a ruined and unfrequented castle, some ob- 

 scure 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 hav- 

 ing by some accident been thrown into the midst of their ene- 

 mies, and surrounded with danger. 



Having spent the day in their retreat, at the approach of even- 

 ing they Solly 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 persever- 

 unce. 



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 considered 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 



