BARRED OWL. 305 
very frequently observed flying during day, and certainly sees more 
distinctly at that time than many of its genus. In one spring, at dif- 
ferent times, I met with more than forty of them, generally flying or 
“Such persons as conclude, when looking upon Owls in the glare of day, that 
they are, as they then appear, extremely dull, are greatly mistaken. Were they 
to stale, like Buffon, that Woadpackees are miserable beings, they would be talk- 
ing as incorrectly ; and, to one who might have lived long in the woods, they would 
seem to have lived only in their libraries. ik 
“The Barred Owl is found in all those parts of the United States which I have 
visited, and is a constant resident. In Louisiana, it seems to be more abundant 
than in any other state. It is almost impossible to travel eight or ten miles in an 
of the retired woods there, withou: seeing several of them even in broad day ; and, 
at the approach of night, their cries are heard proceeding from every part of the 
forest around the plantations. Should the weather be lowering, and indicative of 
the approach of rain, their cries are so multiplied during the day, and especially in 
the evening, and they respond to each other in tones so strange, that one might 
imagine some extraordinary féte about to take place among them. On approach- 
ing one of them, its gesticulations are seen to be of a very extraordinary nature. 
The position of the bird, which is generally erect, is immediately changed. It low- 
ers its head and inclines its body, to watch the motions of the person beneath ; 
throws forward the lateral feathers of its head, which thus has the appearance of 
being surrounded by a broad ruff; looks towards him as if half blind, and moves 
its head to and fro in so extraordinary a manner, as almost to induce a person to 
fancy that part dislocated from the body. It follows all the motions of the intruder 
- With its eyes; and should it suspect any treacherous intentions, flies off to a short 
distance, alighting with its back to the person, and immediately turning about with 
a single jump, to recommence its scrutiny. In this manner, the Barred Owl may 
be followed to a considerable distance, if not shot at; for to halloo after it does not 
seem to frighten it much. But if shot at and missed, it removes to a considerable 
distance, after which, its whah-whah-whah is uttered with considerable pomposity. 
This Owl will answer the imitation of its own sounds, and is frequently decoyed by 
this means. 
“The flight of the Barred Owl is smooth, light, noiseless, and capable of being 
greatly protracted. I have seen them take their departure from a detached grove 
m a prairie, and pursue a direct course towards the skirts of the main forest, distant 
more than two miles, in broad daylight. Ihave thus followed them with the eye 
until they were lost in the distance, and have reason to suppose that they continued 
their flight until they reached the woods. Once, whilst descending the Obio, not 
far from the well-known Cave-in-rock, about two hours before sunset, in the month 
of November, I saw a Barred Owl teased by several Crows, and chased from the 
tree in which it was. On leaving the tree, it gradually rose in the air, in the man- 
ner of a Hawk, and at length attained so great a height, that our party lost sight 
of it. It acted, I thought, as if it had lost itself, now and then describing small 
circles, and flapping its ve quickly, then flying in zigzag lines. This being so 
uncommon an occurrence, I noted it down at the time. I felt anxious to see the 
bird return towards the earth, but it did not make its appearance again. So very 
lightly do they fly, that f have frequently discovered one passing over me, and only 
a few yards distant, by first seeing its shadow on the ground, during clear moonlight 
nights, when not the faintest rustling of its wings could be heard. 
“Their power of sight during the day seems to be rather of an equivocal char- 
acter, as I once saw onc alight on the back of a cow, which it left so suddenly after- 
wards, when the cow moved, as to prove to me that it had mistaken the object on 
which it had perched for something else. At other times, I have observed that the 
approach of the gray squirrel intimidated them, if one of these animals accidentally 
jumped on a branch close to them, although the Owl destroys a number of them 
during the twilight.” 
Audubon has heard it said, in addition to small animals and birds, and a peculiar 
sort of frog, common in the woods of Louisiana, that the Barred Owl catches fish. 
He neve saw this performed, though it may be as natural for it as those species 
whieh have been ascerteined to feed on them. It is often exposed for sale in the 
New Orleans sean Bil the Creoles make gwmbo of it, and pronounce it palatable, 
