102 THE VIRGINIAN EARED OWL 



himself once knew an instance of the kind. He states another circumstance, showing 

 the ferocity of these birds, which came under his notice. Two men were in the forest 

 for the purpose of getting berries, when one of them happening to approach near to 

 the nest of the Owl, she pounced on him while he was in the act of stooping, and 

 fixing her talons in his back, wounded him very severely. His companion, however, 

 was fortunately near at hand, who, catching up a stick, lost no time in destroying the 

 furious bird. 



" Mr. Nilsson states that these Owls not unfrequently engage in combat with the eagle 

 himself, and that they often come off victorious. These powerful and voracious birds, 

 that gentleman remarks, occasionally kill the fawns of the stag, roebuck, and reindeer. 

 The largest of the birds common to the Scandinavian forests, such as the capercali, often 

 become their prey. The hooting of these Owls may often be heard during the night-time 

 in the northern forests ; the sound, which is a most melancholy one, and which has 

 given rise to many superstitions, is audible at a long distance." This bird is also most 

 invaluable in destroying the lemmings. 



The cry of the Eagle Owl is a very deep and doleful note, sounding most lugubriously 

 in the depth of the lonely forests during the hours of night. When angry, the bhd utters 

 a sharp hiss, not unlike the sound which is produced by the common brown Owl of 

 England when irritated. It is generally seen during the twilight hours, although it some- 

 times continues to search after prey during the entire night. While engaged in hunting, 

 it flies low over the ground, and displays great quickness of eye and wing in discerning 

 and pouncing upon everything that has life and can be eaten. This bird has been 

 employed for the purpose of decoying falcons towards the snare, by being fastened 

 in a convenient spot where it can be seen by any passing bird. The falcon cannot 

 possibly resist the pleasure of dashing at the great, solemn, winking bird, and is 

 accordingly captured in the fowler's ready net as he swoops after the Owl, which 

 runs for refuge precisely in the direction of the toils. 



The length of this fine bird is rather more than two feet, and the aspect of its 

 outstretched wings is wonderfully magnificent. The general colour of the Eagle Owl is 

 brown, mingled with a yellow tinge, and covered on the upper surface with bars, dashes, 

 and streaks of blackish-brown. The facial disc is pale brown, decorated with many small 

 spots of black, and the under surface of the body is nearly yellow, traversed by 

 longitudinal stripes of black upon the chest, and barred transversely with many bars of 

 dark brown on the abdomen. The legs and thighs are pale brown, with, many narrow 

 bars of a darker hue. The long armed claws are black, and the beak is also nearly black. 

 The eyes are of a bright radiant orange, and have a very fierce appearance when the bird 

 looks the spectator in the face. The female is rather larger than the male, the difference 

 in length being about four inches. 



The VIRGINIAN EARED OWL holds the same place in America as the eagle Owl 

 in Europe, and is even now a familiar bird, though it has been extirpated from many 

 localities where it once reigned supreme. 



It is a very large bird, nearly equalling the great Owl in magnitude, and being in no 

 way its inferior in strength or courage. This species is found spread over the greatest 

 portion of North America, and in former days did great damage among the poultry of the 

 agriculturists, being a bold as well as a voracious bird. Now, however, the ever-ready 

 rifle of the farmer has thinned its numbers greatly, and has inspired the survivors with 

 such awe, that they mostly keep clear of cultivated lands, 'tnd confine themselves to 

 seeking after their legitimate prey. 



The Virginian Eared or Horned Owl is a terrible destroyer of game, snatching 

 up grouse, partridges, hares, ducks, sparrows, squirrels, and many other furred and 

 feathered creatures, and not unfrequently striving after larger quarry. The wild turkey 

 is a favourite article of diet with this Owl ; but on account of the extreme wariness of the 

 turkey nature, the depredator finds an unseen approach to be no easy matter. The usual 

 mode in which the Owl catches the turkey is, to find out a spot where its intended prey 

 is quietly sleeping at night, and then to swoop down suddenly upon the slumbering bird 



