CLASS II. AVES: ORDER 1. RAPTORES. 



77 



THE AMERICAN BARN-OWL, 



But although the barn-owl is so imbecile by day as to suffer itself to be insulted with impunity 

 by the pettiest aggressor, it assumes a very different character when darkness restores to it the 

 faculty of clearly distinguishing objects. By watching near its haunts, or taking one's station in 

 the neighborhood of some farm-steading frequented by it, one may dimly see it advance with 

 silent and gliding flight, skimming over the fields, shooting along the hedge-bank, deviating this 

 way and that, and now perhaps sweeping overhead, without causing the slightest sound by the 

 flappings of its downy wings. On perceiving an object, it drops to the ground, secures its prey 

 in a moment, and uttering a shrill cry, flies off with it in its claws. In a little time it returns, 

 and thus continues prowling about the farm-yard for hours. 



The nests of this species are very rude ; the eggs three or four in number ; these are laid at 

 different times, so that the hatching of the young is often several weeks apart. It is capable of 



