The Long-eared Owl 



Taken in Washington 



to hear what Maria will 

 say. I paused and can- 

 vassed the morale of my 

 contemplated action; 

 then hastily reviewed 

 the chances of wild-cats; 

 and then reached for my 

 gun. Not until I had 

 actually seen the mother 

 bird, for it was she, emit- 

 ting one of those grue- 

 some squalls, could f 

 believe that the noise 

 came from an Owl. 

 Even after doubt was at 

 rest, the cry seemed not 

 less like the snarl of an 

 angry feline. To add to 

 the terrors of the defen- 

 sive, the husband and 

 father came up and liter- 

 ally proceeded to spread 

 himself. Wings and tail 

 were spread to the ut- 

 most, and every feather 

 was ruffled to the fullest 

 extent, — all in a manner 

 calculated to strike ter- 

 ror to the boldest heart. 

 The bird-man managed 

 to control his nerves long 

 enough to note five eggs 

 — but of what color de- 

 ponent saith not — then 

 hurriedly sought more 

 congenial company. 

 The notes of the Long-eared Owl are a fascinating study. The 

 call note, oftenest visualized as the conventional "hoot," is scarcely 

 that, but is something softer, tenderer, and more subdued. After the 

 courting season, the male employs this sound to comfort his mate upon the 

 nest. Once we camped at the foot of a cottonwood tree which contained 

 a nest of this bird, and as often as we waked in the still watches, we heard 



1082 



A NESTING SITE 



MAMA LONGEARS IS ON DECK 



Photo by the Author 



