AVES—OWL. 469 
Juniper trees, and are rarely seen abroad during the sunshine. They con- 
struct their nests in the hollow of a tree, often in the orchard in an old 
apple tree. 
I kept one of these birds, says Wilson, in a room for several weeks. It 
was caught in a barn, and being unhurt, I had an opportunity of remarking 
its manners. At first it struck itself so forcibly against the window as fre- 
quently to deprive it, seemingly, of all sensation for several minutes; this 
was done so repeatedly that I began to fear that either the glass, or the owl’s 
skull must give way. Ina few days, however, it either began to compre- 
hend the matter, or to take disgust at the glass; for it never repeated its 
attempts, and soon became quite tame and familiar. Those who have seen 
this bird only in the day, can form but an imperfect idea of its activity and 
even sprigntliness in its proper season of exercise. Throughout the day it 
was all stillness and gravity ; its eyelids half shut, its neck contracted, and 
its head shrunk seemingly into its body. But scarcely was the sun set and 
twilight began to approach, when its eyes became full and sparkling like 
two living globes of fire; it crouched on its perch; reconnoitered every 
object round with locks of eager fierceness; alighted and fed; stood on the 
meat with clenched talons, while it tore it in morsels with its bill; flew 
round the room with the silence of thought, and perching, moaned out its 
melancholy notes with many lively gesticulations, not at all accordant with 
the pitiful tone of its ditty, which reminded one of the shivering moaning 
of a half frozen puppy. 
‘ 
THE Lit DLE OWL} 
"Is one of the least of its whole genus, put, like many other little folks, maxes 
up in neatness of general form and appearance for deficiency of size, and is 
perhaps the most shapely of all our owls. It also possesses an eye fully 
equal in spirit and brilliancy to the best of them. 
This species is a general and constant inhabitant of the middle and north- 
ern states; but is found most numerous in the neighborhood of the sea- 
shore, and among woods and swamps of pinetrees. It rarely rambles much 
during the day ; but if disturbed, flies a short way, and again takes shelter 
from the light; at the approach of twilight it is.all life and activity, being 
a noted and dexterous mouse catcher. It is found as far north as Nova 
Scotia, and even Hudson’s Bay, and is frequent in Russia. It builds its 
nest in a pine tree. The melancholy and gloomy umbrage of those solitary 
evergreens forms its favorite haunts, where it sits dozing and slumbering all 
day, lulied by the roar of the neighboring ocean. 
—_—-—~—. 
1S. passerina, WiLson. 
