THE OOLOGIST. 



79 



Presto! What a change! From this 

 time our Owl became^more and more 

 like his wild brothers and sisters. As 

 long as he had plentyjof food he was 

 perfectly silent, except for a snapping 

 of the beak when disturbed. But let 

 him get I'eal hungry and what a racket. 

 J woke up one night with the impres- 

 sion that a cat-fight was in progress 

 directly under my window, but finally 

 I'ecollected that Rhoderick had not 

 been fed and then understood it all. 

 At other times he would hoot in gen- 

 uine Owl style. I wonder if Owls ever 

 hoot except when very hungry. 



At first my brother could go in the 

 room and sit down when Rhoderick 

 would come to him with a series of 

 short flights and hops and perch on his 

 knee, allowing him to stroke his 

 feathers without protest. He could 

 turn his head sideways so quickly that 

 it seemed to go all the way around on 

 a pivot. He never held his ear-tufts 

 entirely erect unless surprised or at the 

 the prospect of food when very hungry. 

 At other times they were carried semi- 

 erect unless very angry when they laid 

 flat on the head. He took daily baths 

 in the most approved bird fashion, 

 shaking and preening himself like 

 smaller birds. But he hai to have a 

 twelve-quart pan for a bath-tub. Per- 

 haps all Owls bathe in the night; who 

 knows? All live animals when placed 

 in the room with him showed extreme 

 fear and no disposition to fight him, 

 except woodchucks and cats and even 

 the cat was afraid but would show 

 fight if Rhoderick came very near. A 

 I'at would make the most violent efforts 

 to escape but never turned on him as 

 they will on a human being when hard 

 pressed. It was comical to watch him 

 when a woodchuck was placed in the 

 room. He would start for his game as 

 usual but never get his talons into Mr. 

 'Chuck to my knowledge. Certainly 

 he never killed one. He would eat one 

 after we killed it however, and, for a 

 time, really seem to be satisfied. 



Finally he became uni"uly and one 

 morning when I entered his room with 

 bis breakfast he flew at me and drove 

 his talons through my hat and into my 

 scalp. If anyone wants to know how 

 that feels just try it some time. I know 

 of nothing else just like it, though a- 

 cat's scratch will give one some idea 

 of the sensation. As a result of that 

 exploit he is now one of the ornaments- 

 in our parlor and a big one too. 



In size he excels any wild specimen 

 I have ever seen and there is just 

 enough of his baby down left to give 

 him a fuzzy appearance. His whole 

 life was less than five months. 



Ernest H. Short 

 Chili, N. Y. 



Winter Birds of the Orange Mountains, in 

 Essex County, N. J-. 



Observations were made in the 

 months of December, January, Feb- 

 ruary and March. 



Bluebird, pair noted in December. 



Robin, three seen in January during- 

 severe snow storm. 



Kinglet, Golden-crowned, seen in 

 company with Chickadees during early 

 part of December. 



Chickadees at all times abundant. 



Tufted Titmouse, pair seen during 

 rain in January. 



White-breasted Nuthatch, at times 

 plentiful, but generally few and far be- 

 tween. 



Winter Wren, ten seen in December, 

 and only one observed during the three 

 other months. 



Northern Shrike, oue seen in March. 



Cedar Waxwing. one flock of seven 

 seen in February; very plentiful last 

 winter. 



Fox Sparrow, more or less numerous 

 in February and March but none no- 

 ticed before. 



Song Sparrow, several seen in com- 

 pany with Tree Sparrows in February.. 



Slate-colored Junco, common. 



