( 388 ) 

 BARN OWL. 



STRIJi FLAMMEA, LiNN. 

 PLATE CLXXI. Vol. II. p. 403. 



On the 29th April 1837, on Galveston Island, in Texas, we found 

 several individuals of this bird in bunches of cactuses, surrounded by 

 low bushes and tall grass. They flew round the gunners as if they 

 were about to breed there. One of them was started from the tall 

 grass, and was shot. We thought it strange to meet with these Owls 

 in salt-marshes. At first they were very gentle, but after we had shot 

 several the rest became very shy. Two of them flew off" toward a 

 fresh-water pond, surrounded by high flags and sedges, and were pur- 

 sued by a great number of Boat-tailed Grakles, Quiscalus major, which 

 forced them down into the marsh. Our men were sent after these 

 Owls, and soon started them anew. One of them made for another 

 marsh, and there alighted, whilst the other perched on the top of a low 

 bush quite exposed to view ; but when we tried to get near, it seemed 

 to see us clearly, for it flew away long before we were within shot, and 

 betook itself to an island several miles distant. 



On the 3d ]May, we found on the same island two nests, situated 

 among thick bushes and tall grass, and placed on the bare ground, 

 which appeai-ed to have been cleared for the purpose to the extent of 

 several feet, in a circular form. Each of them had avenues through 

 the grass several feet in length, and completely covered over, by which 

 the birds escaped on our approach. In one of the nests we found two 

 sets of young birds, four large and three small, the latter apparently 

 at least a week younger than the rest. One of the old birds, on being 

 shot at when leaving the nest, rose in a circling manner until nearly 

 out of sight, when it suddenly closed its wings in the manner of some 

 Hawks, glided downwards with great velocity, and alighted in the mid- 

 dle of a high marsh. The other was shot on wing soon after leaving 

 its nest, in which we found three young ones and four eggs ready to 

 be hatched. The extraordinary diff'erence in the size of these young 

 Owls induced us to put some of them into rum.- The nests were placed 

 close to those of some Carrion Crows, Cathartes Iota. 



