UTAH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 201 
For instance, a beautiful squirrel-hawk, more than two feet 
long, took his last earthly rest in a tall popular on M street 
in this city, about twenty or twenty-five years ago, because 
before it could be prevented an ardent huntsman brought 
the stately bird down with his gun. Owls are frequently 
objects of unqualified hatred, entirely unwarranted. 
Four species of owls were observed by me in Denmark 
and as many in Utah. Of these half at least can be recom- 
mended for admission by St. Peter as useful, unrightfully 
persecuted, birds. The wonderful Speopyto (the “burrowing” 
owl), I can truthfully say holds a record, for in any coun- 
try and at any time I found no creature of more prepos- 
sessing manner, or sympathetic demeanor, than this useful 
and innocent, childlike soul—the sweetest of all Americans. 
I have in mind one brought home from the foot-hills by my 
little son in about:1895. (It was killed next day by a half- 
witted boy with a flipper). Six or more may often be seen 
on top of their burrow, apparently enjoying the view of 
hill or valley. The Danish species, which this mostly 
reminds of, is Minerva’s owl which nests in village churches, 
and whose antics on a straw-thatched cottage-roof in bright 
sunshine I watched thru a field-glass in 1875 from a house 
about fifteen rods distant. This was in northern Jutland; 
and the entertainment afforded by these three or four 
owlets, flapping their wings and gleefully playing, will al- 
ways remain with me. 
Both species are consequently diurnal and contrast 
with such as the common night or wood owl and many 
others. The night owl is in my opinion the bird of most 
peculiar language, as the female will be heard flying with 
her howling mate to utter her distinct “gy e’ep” following 
his ‘‘oo-hoo’’. 
Another interesting comparison can be drawn between 
the great uhu of the Germans, now scarcely found in Den- 
mark, and the large horned owl of United States. The 
first is sixty-three to seventy-seven centimeters in length 
while the latter is perhaps sixty centimeters. Both are 
redoubtable birds, and the former is both larger, stronger 
and possessed of a more distinguished (almost awe-inspir- 
