The Great Horned Owl 



19 



presently flew into trees closer at hand, to observe what was going on at their 

 nest, sometimes perching low down, sometimes in the very top of the neighbor- 

 ing pines. Their long-drawn doleful hooting, interspersed with subdued cries 

 or an occasional grunt, was accompanied by the ruffling of their feathers and 

 the snapping of their beaks. Thus do they show their anger. When hooting 

 they looked straight ahead, apparently lending their entire attention to the 

 operation, and their white chin-patches seemed to expand, giving them a 

 very peculiar appearance. 



I was placing my subjects for a last picture, when, suddenly prompted to 

 look up, I beheld one of the old birds only a few yards off, sailing directly to- 



YOUNG HORNED OWLS A MONTH OLD 

 Their horns are quite distinct. Within a week or ten days they will leave the nest 



ward me. But instead of attacking me, as it probably at first intended, it lit 

 on a limb within a distance of 6 feet. There it perched, almost within arm's 

 reach, long ears erect, the powerful talons of its stout, feathered legs gripping 

 and contracting with readiness for action, the large, relentless eyes fixing me 

 with deadly intentness. Unfortunately, the camera was tied in place for 

 photographing the nest, and as it was thus out of commission for the occasion, 

 I had to sit astride a limb content to observe and wait. A hostile move toward 

 the young would have invited vengeance, but, no further provocation being 

 offered, the bird presently glided away. 



This close introduction apparently having lessened the awe in which it 



