byes REED, JVotes on the American Barn Owl. iy 
the carcass of a Horned Owl, Curlew, Barn Owl, or any other 
food from about his workshop, was used. 
The manner of preparing the food before swallowing it is also 
very interesting. The mammal or bird, as the case may be, if 
alive, is killed by piercing or crushing the base of the skull 
between the mandibles; when a bird, the longest and _stiffest 
wing and tail feathers are plucked with its beak; if of the size of a 
Sparrow it is swallowed whole, always head first; if of the size of a 
Catbird, Thrush, or Robin, it is torn apart before devouring. 
As Mr. Voelker took pleasure in assisting his pet to prepare 
its food in proper doses, it always relied on his judgment as to 
the size and shape of the morsel. I was amused during one of 
these operations, when he was feeding him a Catbird, just shot. 
He gave the helpless Owl a leg, with the thigh and adjoining 
portions attached, expecting him to swallow it whole; this of 
course with great exertion he endeavored to do, but the thigh end 
going down his throat, the tarsus stuck crosswise, the foot pro- 
truding from the corner of his mouth. When I insisted, Mr. 
Voelker relieved him by pulling it up again and breaking the 
bones for him. He never showed any desire to gorge himself, 
but often refused to notice food after having eaten a small bird. 
The pellets were always ejected before another meal was eaten, 
and could be disgorged at will, which was shown when he was 
offered a tempting piece of food. In doing this he would bow his 
head against the breast and shake it from side to side in a very 
dejected manner, then straightening himself up would endeavor 
to cast it off as if with a very repulsive feeling, as though it had 
a bitter taste, or was not a pleasant duty. In this manner, with 
widely distended mouth, it was thrown out with force enough to 
carry it twelve to eighteen inches from him. These pellets were 
often only partly digested, which may account for the unusual 
effort required at times. When remaining in his presence or 
when disturbed, he kept up a continual cry resembling that of a 
squab pigeon. 
The tameness of this Owl may seem almost incredible; he could 
always be found in Mr. Voelker’s company, either alongside of 
him or on his arm or shoulder. When engaged at his taxidermic 
work he would have to place a stuffed companion alongside of 
48 
