26 STRIGID.'E. 



food and carry it to their place of resort, as if in store against 

 dark nights or unfavourable weather. 



Many of this species live in a state of half domestication 

 in barns, stables, malting-houses, &c. where they receive 

 careful protection from the owners in return for their invalu- 

 able services in destroying mice and other vermin. 



The following fact, which came under our own observation 

 some years ago, shows the little fear that these birds enter- 

 tain for men. One of these species which inhabited some 

 fir trees in a cottage garden, became so tame that it would 

 enter the door or window of the cottage as soon as the family 

 sat down to supper and partake of the meal, either sitting 

 upon the back of a chair or venturing on the table ; and it 

 was sometimes seen for hours before the time watching anx- 

 iously for the entrance of the expected feast. This exhibiiion 

 was seen regularly every night, until some unfortunate sports- 

 man put an end to its life. 



The Yellow Owl is in its actions one of the most grotesque 

 of its tribe. When a newly-caught one is put into a cage, 

 it sits quite upright in a corner, crowding itself against the 

 wall or wirework, with its long, thin, white, harlequin legs 

 pressed together ; sometimes, as in a paroxism of fear, it wil* 

 fall flat down upon its side and remain as if dead, then slowly 

 raising its head it peers stupidly about, or starting up flies 

 at the object of its fear, with its feet thrust forward and its 

 sharp claws extended. All its actions appear rather those 

 of a puppet governed by the hand of an unseen operator, 

 than the result of its own volition. One individual that we 

 had for a considerable time used every morning, on our 

 entering the room where it was kept, to perform an extra- 

 ordinary evolution, as if intended for a polite and respectable 

 salutation ; this commenced by slowly spreading its ample 

 and beautifnl wings, then lowering its puffy head, and at 

 the same time throwing it forward, it complacently moved 

 it from side to side for some minutes. 



When taken full grown, they are sometimes very stubborn 



