BARRED OWL. 71 
ern States. Its food is principally rabbits, squirrels, Grouse, 
Quails, rats, mice, and frogs. From necessity, as well as choice, 
these birds not unfrequently appear around the farm-house and 
garden in quest of the poultry, particularly young chickens. 
At these times they prowl abroad towards evening, and fly low 
and steadily about, as if beating for their prey. In Alabama, 
Georgia, West Florida, and Louisiana, where they abound, they 
are often to be seen abroad by day, particularly in cloudy 
weather, and at times even soar and fly with all the address of 
diurnal birds of prey. Their loud guttural call of ’2oh ’koh ’ho 
ko, hd, or ’whah’whah’whah’whah-aa, may be heard occasion- 
ally both by day and night, and as a note of recognition, is 
readily answered when mimicked, so as to decoy the original 
towards the sound. One which I received, in the month of 
December (1830), was hovering over a covey of Quails in the 
day-time; and though the sportsman had the same aim, the 
Owl also joined the chase, and was alone deterred from his 
sinister purpose by receiving the contents of the gun intended 
only for the more favorite game. When the young leave the 
nest they still keep together for mutual warmth and safety in 
the high, shaded branches of the trees where they have prob- 
ably been hatched. On being approached by the parents, 
they utter a hissing call audible for some distance. According 
to Audubon, when kept in captivity they prove very useful 
in catching mice. Their flesh is also eaten by the creoles of 
Louisiana, and considered as palatable. 
An interesting article, containing the most valuable information 
regarding the habits of this Owl that has yet been published, ap- 
peared in “ The Auk ” for April, 1890. The writer, Mr. Frank Bolles, 
kept a pair for several years; and one of these, having broken its 
wing, was reduced to such subjection that Mr. Bolles was enabled 
to make use of it in hunting for other birds, and thus gained 
an insight into the bird’s methods that no other naturalist has 
equalled. 
NoTE. — The FLORIDA BARRED OWL (S. xebulosum allent), 
a somewhat darker variety, is restricted to the Gulf States and 
Florida. 
