384 SNOWY OWL. 



out looking what his hands contained, it dipped its head into the water, 

 much to its own discomfort, but to the great amusement of the sailors. 

 The Owl having apparently relapsed into a doze, the sailor, elated with 

 the result of his first attempt, ventured to try the same trick again, 

 but received a nip in return, which made him clap his finger into his 

 mouth and retreat amid the laughter and jeers of the rest of the crew. 

 The roost which the captain had put up for the Owl, was directly be- 

 hind the locker upon which the carpenter and mate usually sat at mess. 

 D\u"ing dinner, one very stormy day, by a sudden lurch of the vessel, 

 the Owl was thrown from its perch, and the first place it alighted up- 

 on was the bald pate of the carpenter, who was seated in front. It had, 

 however, scarcely time to open its eyes upon its strange resting place, 

 ere it was dislodged by a stroke of the carpenter''s arm, and obliged to 

 seek for more secure footing, which it readily found among the bushy 

 locks of the mate, who but an instant before was laughing at the strange 

 predicament of his companion. For a short time every stroke which 

 the mate gave his unwelcome visitor was quickly repaid by a closer 

 gripe, and a smart stroke upon each ear from a pair of powerful wings ; 

 but the vessel having at length settled, the bird retreated, apparently 

 not a little astonished at the unusual uproar. During the day-time it 

 seemed a good deal inclined to doze, particularly after being fed, but 

 not more so than I have seen Hawks and some other birds. To- 

 wards evening, however, it certainly shewed a stronger disposition to 

 activity, its eyes became more bright and glaring, its motions more 

 quick, and no movement in the cabin escaped its notice. Having re- 

 peatedly extinguished the candles in the cabin by attempts to fly, we 

 were obliged to confine the bird whenever the daylight began to fade. 

 Two things seemed to irritate it exceedingly ; the first was to touch its 

 wings, and the second to put water on it. The first might have ori- 

 ginated from a wound, though I could not detect any injury ; but the 

 second seemed rather singular in a bird which was accustomed to ob- 

 tain at least a part of its subsistence from the water. Before I parted 

 with this bird, it seemed a good deal attached to me, though it took no 

 notice of other persons. When it observed me even at a considerable 

 distance, it would lower its head, watch me very closely, and seem 

 much pleased when I approached." 



Adult male, presented by the Society of Natural History of Salem, 

 Massachusetts. The nostrils are ovate, oblique, i^ twelfths long, 2 



