THE LITTLE OR ACADIAN OWL. 125 



sharp and shrill, and seemed so close behind me that I started involuntarily. 

 Having carefully examined all the adjacent trees without success, I was 

 about giving it up in despair, when the note which first attracted my attention 

 seemed to come in the former direction. Before I had advanced many 

 steps, the sound changed as before; at one moment it seemed behind me, the 

 next upon the right hand, then upon the left, and then it resumed its former 

 distant mellow tone. This occurred so often, that I was completely puzzled 

 and tempted to give up the pursuit, but still the desire of finding out the 

 origin of the sound urged me on. After proceeding a considerable distance 

 farther, I found that the bell-like sound now came from the opposite direc- 

 tion, and seemed far beyond the spot where I first heard it. Retracing my 

 steps I entered a small cleared spot, in the centre of which stood a black 

 birch, whose dead and decayed top projected beyond a vigorous growth of 

 fresh branches, by which its sides were clothed. As 1 seated myself upon a 

 prostrate log, the shrill note was suddenly resumed, and from the direction 

 of the sound I was convinced that it proceeded from the birch tree. Almost 

 breathless with expectation, I carefully examined the tree from top to bot- 

 tom, but the secret still remained concealed. Moving cautiously round, I 

 examined the other side of the tree, but with no better success, until going 

 to the root, and directing my eye along the trunk, I observed a small pro- 

 tuberance, which at first appeared to be a knot. Inspecting it more closely, 

 however, I found it to be the head of the Little Grey Owl, protruded from 

 a small aperture, which probably formed the entrance of its nest. Though 

 standing directly beneath the bird, it did not seem to observe me, but con- 

 tinued to call for its mate. While watching the Owl, I observed with no 

 little surprise that the sound which I thought came from a distance, as well 

 as that which was near, actually proceeded from the same source. This 

 singular power of altering the voice I have never found in any other bird, 

 and to me it appeared analogous to that by which ventriloquists are able to 

 make the voice seem near or remote. Having enjoyed the pleasing decep- 

 tion for some time, I left the little performer unmolested, feeling abundantly 

 recompensed for my long tramp through mire and slush by the curious 

 discovery. This was the only time I ever heard the note of this Owl. 

 Frequently I have had it alive, but it was invariably silent, and, like the 

 Strix flammea, would sometimes feign itself dead; and last winter I shot 

 one which was placed upon its back in a scale, and handled a good deal, yet 

 it shewed no signs of life until thrown into a box, when it started up, and 

 looked about sharply enough.' 7 



In all parts of the United States where this species occurs it is a permanent 

 resident. 



