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AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



HABITS. 



With the possible exception 

 of the Screech Owl, the Barred 

 Owl is the most common mem- 

 ber of the family in the eastern 

 part of the United States, and 

 without any exception they are 

 the most noisy. As is the case 

 with other owls, this one does 

 the greater part of his hunting 

 at night although he can see 

 equally as well during the day 

 time and especially during 

 cloudy weather, is frequently 

 found flying about then. In all 

 probability it is not so much a 

 regard for their eyes that in- 

 duces them to be birds of the 

 night as it is their nerves. All feathered creatures regard them as foes, 

 and should one show himself in the daytime he is persecuted for hours 

 by all the birds in the neighborhood. To escape this they remain 

 hidden in some shadowy retreat in the depths of the woods, from 

 whence they come at dusk to quietly drop upon their unsuspecting 

 prey, whether it be bird, animal or reptile, without the necessity of an 

 exciting chase. 



The flight of the Barred Owl is very easy and, at times, very rapid, 

 although the soft texture of their feathers makes the sound of the 

 beating of their wings inaudible. They are usually solitary, and, 

 except during the mating season, it is not common to find more than 

 one of them in a locality. Their canny cries may be heard at all hours 

 of the night in places where there is extensive timber land. Their 

 voice at times has a very human sound, and it has frequently brought 

 terror to the hearts of unfortunates who have been alone in the depths 

 of the woods at night. Their cry ranges from several different inter- 

 pretations resembling "hoo-hoo," several times repeated, to a wild 

 burst of demoniacal laughter. 



They are now regarded as semi-useful birds ; that is, they destroy a 

 small per centage of poultry or birds useful to man, while the obnox- 

 ious rodents form quite a large percentage of the diet. They are also 

 fond of fish, which they catch by jumping into the water and seizing 

 with their talons. They are quite valorous in the defense of their 

 nests and young. While they do not attempt to strike the intruder 



