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, arc greatly ditekon Were they 
to state, like Buffon, that Woodpeckers are miserable beings, they would be talk- 
ing as incorrectly ; and, to one who might have lived long in the woods, they woyld 
seem to have lived only in their libraries. : 
. “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 a 
of the retired woods there, without 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 fete about to take place among them. On approach- 
ing one. of them, its gesticulations are seen to be of a very. extraordinary nature. 
position of the bird, which is gencrally 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. . 1t follows all the motions of the intruder 
with its eyes; and should it suspeet any treacherous intentions, flies off to a short 
distance, alighting with its back to the persén, 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 nat 
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 omposity. 
This Owl will answer the imitation of its own sounds, and is frequently decoyed by ; 
this means. § . a 
“The flight of the Barred Owl is smooth, light, noiseless, and capable of being 
greatly protracted. I have secn them take their departure from a detached.grove 
ima 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,.aud have reason to suppose that they continued 
their flight until they reached the woods. Once, whilst descending the Ohio, not. 
far from the well-known Cave-in-rock, about two hours before surset, 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 escribing small 
circles, and flapping its wings quickly, then flying in zigzag lines. This being so’ 
uncommon an pauses 1 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 I have frequently, discovered one passing over me, and only 
afew 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 one 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 
auened on a branch close to them, although the Owl destroys a number of them 
luring 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 i fish. 
He never saw this performed, though it may be as natural for it as those species 
y Which have been ascertained to feed on them. It is often exposeu for sale in the 
New Orleans ee the Creoles make gumbo of it, and pronounce it palatable. 
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