NIGHT AND DAY HUNTERS 179 



impression that this owl is fierce. In the West the bur- 

 rows of ground squirrels and rabbits or the hole of a musk- 

 rat have been utilized, since none of the owls is overscrupu- 

 lous about appropriating other creatures' homes, however 

 much attached a pair may become to a spot that has once 

 cradled their brood. Still another peculiarity of this owl 

 is that it is almost never seen to alight on a tree; the ground 

 is its usual resting place, a stump or knoU a high enough 

 point of vantage. Mice, gophers, and insects of various 

 kinds, which are its food, keep this hunter close to earth; 

 and as it flies low, and does not take to wing until fairly 

 stepped on, it encourages close acquaintance, thereby 

 earning a reputation for being the most abundant species 

 in the United States. 



The Long-eared Owl or Cat Owl 



This bird, of richer coloring than the preceding and with 

 longtuf tsor horns, is about the same size, but more noctm-nal 

 in its habits, and it favors drier wooded habitats. Most of 

 this horned owl's nests (frequently theformerhomeof acrow 

 of hawk) are in trees. It is chiefly at the nesting season that 

 these usually silent birds lift up their voices. " When at ease 

 and not molested," says Captain Bendire, "the few notes 

 which I have heard them utter are low toned and rather 

 pleasing than otherwise. One of these is a soft-toned 

 vm-hurik, wu-hunh, slowly and several times repeated. 

 . . . Another is a low, twittering, whistling note, like 

 dicky, dicky, dicky, quite different from anything usually 

 expected from the owl family. In the early spring they 

 hoot somewhat like a screech owl, and may often be heard 

 on a still evening; but their notes are more subdued than 



