72 



THE GREAT VIRGINIAN HORNED OTTL. 



the night. These birds are occasionally very bold and furious in 

 defence. of their young. A carpenter some years ago, passing through 

 a field near Gloucester, was suddenly attacked by an Owl that had a 

 nest in a tree near the path. It flew at his head ; and the man struck 

 at it with. .a.. tool that he had in his hand, but missed his blow. The 

 enraged bird repeated the attack ; and fastening her talons in his face, 

 lacerated him in a most shocking manner. 



When these animals hoot, they inflate their throats to the size of a 

 hen's egg. They breed in hollow trees, or ruined buildings, laying 

 commonly four whitish oval eggs. It is not difficult to catch them in 

 traps ; or they may easily be shot in the evenings, by any person who 

 can allure them by imitating the squeaking of a Mouse. 



THE GREAT VIRGINIAN HORNED OWL. 



This species; so nearly related to the Great Eared Owl of Europe, is 



met with occasion- 

 ally from Hudson's 

 Bay to Florida, and 

 in Oregon; it ex- 

 ists even beyond 

 the tropics, being 

 very probably the 

 same bird describ- 

 ed by Marcgrave 

 as inhabiting the 

 forests of Brazil. 

 All climates are 

 alike to this Eagle* 

 of the night, the 

 'king of the noc- 

 turnal tribe of 

 American birds. 

 The aboriginal 

 inhabitants of the 

 country dread his 

 boding howl, dedi- 

 cating his effigies to 

 their solemnities, 

 and, as if he were 

 their sacred bird of 

 Minerva, forbid the 

 mockery of his 

 ominous, dismal, 

 and almost super- 

 natural cries. His 

 favorite resort, in 

 the dark and im- 

 in chosen solitudo 



QRBAT HORXED OWL. 



penetrable, awampy forests, where he dwells 



