THE SCREECH OWL. 187 



with the body placed lengthwise along the border 

 of the hole, the head also laid down, but turned tow- 

 ard the water. One might have supposed the bird 

 sound asleep, as it would remain in the same posi- 

 tion until a good opportunity of securing a fish oc- 

 curred, which, I believe, was never missed; for, as 

 the latter unwittingly rose to the surface, near the 

 edge, that instant the Owl thrust out the foot next 

 the water, and, with the quickness of lightning, 

 seized it, and drew it out. The Owl then removed 

 to the distance of a few yards, devoured its prey, 

 and returned to the same hole ; or, if it had not 

 perceived any more fish, flew only a few yards over 

 the many ' pots ' there, marked one, and alighted at 

 a little distance from it. It then squatted, moved 

 slowly toward the edge, and lay as before, waiting 

 for an opportunity." 



The Night Owls, with which we are most familiar, 

 are the Great Horned, the Long-eared, the Short- 

 eared, and the Little Screech Owls. The latter is 

 the most abundant species, and there is scarcely any 

 section of the Eastern and Middle States where it is 

 not found. Its melancholy notes are heard around 

 the doors of our farm-houses, as it sits perched upon 

 a neighboring tree. Its song, if song it may be 

 called, resembles somewhat the syllables, " Who-o-o- 

 o-o-oo-oo ! " uttered through the nose tremulously, 

 and sometimes conveys the impression that they pro- 

 ceed from a child in distress. These notes are most 

 frequently heard during the lattei part of Winter ; 

 and this being the mating season, the male bird is 



