MOTTLED OWL. 273 



to assail any living Mottled Owl that is brought into the room, evidently looking upon 

 it as an invader. 



The sounds, given by my Owl, which I have mentioned, are only uttered when he is 

 frightened or irritated; now I will describe some other notes which he produces when in 

 far more agreeable moods. Like all Owls, he has a call which consists of a series of rather 

 low notes, uttered rapidly and quite melodiously. This is given as an answer when he is 

 railed, when he a lights on my hand, or when approached so suddenly as to be slightly 

 startled; then, after a quick glance informs him that it is a friend who is near, he gives the 

 sound quite low as a sign of reassurance or recognition. This same sound is made quite 

 loud as a challenge to some other Owl or as a preliminary to an attack. It is also, when 

 given very clearly, the love song to the mate but is then followed by a kind of squeal, 

 emitted with the wings partly expanded. But this brings me to what we may consider the 

 acme of Scnpsie's vocal performances, what I look upon as the true song. This is always 

 given when he is in his box which is quite dark, having only small orifices which serve as 

 windows, and an open door. The bird is seldom confined but usually prefers to sit in his 

 house or on top of it. At one time, he would scarcely enter his abode without singing. 

 The performance would commence with a series of singular, chucking notes, given quite 

 slowly, then becoming more rapid; when suddenly the time would change, then the pitch 

 would be raised or lowered, or two or three notes would be thrown together, or a series of 

 lower, steadily given sounds would be followed by others which were high and uttered very 

 rapidly; in short, although there was but a chucking sound, it was so varied that it be- 

 came quite harmonious. Scopsie's song was often, continued for many minutes, especially 

 if the room were quiet and strict attention were paid to him; in fact, when he was encour- 

 d by an imitation of the note, he would continue to sing for half an hour. Scopsie is 

 the only Owl that I ever heard give these continuous notes and even he seldom indulges 

 in it now, excepting occasionally, when he first sees me in the morning, then a few chucks, 

 only, arc given as a greeting. Scopsie often answers when spoken to with a chuckle, often 

 given so very low as to be nearly inaudible, especially if he chances to feel drowsy, besides 

 this, he has a loud call consisting of a series of rapidly given notes, which is uttered when 

 he is alone. Nor are these varied sounds all that Scopsie is capable of emitting; in addi- 

 tion, he has a prolonged, whining note, when begging for food or water, and also the loud, 

 shivering cry of his species, so often heard in the woods on still nights and which is so famil- 

 iar to nearly every one. 



There appeare to be very little difference in the time of breeding in Mottled Owls 

 found in Florida and those in New England, as I have taken the fresh eggs from Wood- 

 perkers' holes in the piney woods and from palmettos in the hummocks or along their bor- 

 ders, the first week in April, while they breed in the apple orchards and woods of the north 

 about the same time. 



The food of the Mottled Owls consists largely of insects but they also eat quantities 

 of birds and mice, occasionally varying this diet by taking frogs or even fish. Nor are 

 they content with this kind of food but will frequently enter pigeon coops to kill the occu- 

 pants and, on one or two occasions, I have even known of them eating their own species. 



35 



