THE LITTLE RED OWL. 51 
the Eagle Owl, and, in the general style of coloring, is similar, the upper 
parts being waved and mottled with black and brownish red; a tinge of 
gray, as the ground color, prevails on the lower part of the back; the throat 
is pure white; the rest of the under surface is marked by innumerable nar- 
row, transverse, dusky bars, on a reddish ground color, thinly interspersed 
with white. 
Our Little Red Owl (Scops Asio) of America, is also another interesting 
species. Audubon says of it, — 
“The flight of the Mottled Owl is smooth, rapid, protracted, and noise- 
less. It rises at times above the top branches of the highest of our forest 
trees whilst in pursuit of large beetles; and at other times sails low and 
swiftly over the fields, or through the woods, in search of small birds, field- 
mice, moles, or wood-rats, from which it chiefly derives its subsistence. On 
alighting (which it does plumply), the Mottled Owl immediately bends its 
body, turns its head to look behind it, performs a curious nod, utters its 
notes, then shakes and plumes itself, and resumes its flight in search of 
prey. It now and then, while on the wing, produces a clicking sound with 
its mandibles, but more frequently when perched near its mate or youne. 
This I have thought was done by the bird to manifest its courage, and let 
the hearer know that it is not to be meddled with; although few birds of 
prey are more gentle when seized, as it will suffer a person to touch its feath- 
ers and caress it without attempting to bite or strike with its talons, unless 
at rare intervals. 
“The notes of this owl are uttered in a tremulous, doleful manner, and 
somewhat resemble the chattering of the teeth of a person under the influ- 
ence of extreme cold, although much louder. They are heard at a dis- 
tance of several hundred yards, and by some people are thought to be of 
ominous lmport.” 
These notes almost exactly resemble the whimpering whine of a small 
dog, for which we have mistaken them on different occasions. 
“The little fellow is generally found about farm-houses, orchards, and 
gardens. It alights on the roof, the fence, or the garden gate, and utters 
its mournful ditty, at intervals, for hours at a time, as if it were in a state 
of vreat suffering; although this is far from being the case, the song of 
all birds being an indication of content and happiness. In a state of con- 
finement it utters its notes with’as much satisfaction as if at liberty. They 
are chiefly heard during the latter part of winter, that being the season 
of love, when the male bird is particularly attentive to the fair one which 
excites his tender emotions, and around which he flies and struts much in the 
manner of the common pigeon, adding numerous nods and bows, the sight 
of which is very amusing.” 
