THE BARRED OWL. 133 



reasonable to do so, I would gladly have invited him to walk in and join me 

 in my repast, that I might have enjoyed the pleasure of forming a better 

 acquaintance with him. The liveliness of his motions, joined to their odd- 

 ness, have often made me think that his society would be at least as agreeable 

 as that of many of the buffoons we meet with in the world. 



Such persons as conclude, when looking upon Owls in the glare of day, 

 that they are, as they then appear, extremely dull, are greatly mistaken. 



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 any of the retired woods there, without seeing several of them 

 even in broad day; and, at the approach of night, their cries are heard pro- 

 ceeding 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 approaching one of them, its 

 gesticulations are seen to be of a very extraordinary nature. The position 

 of the bird, which is generally erect, is immediately changed. It lowers 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. It follows all the 

 motions of the intruder with its eyes; and should it suspect any treacherous 

 intentions, flies off to a short distance, alighting with its back to the person, 

 and immediately turning about with a single jump, to recommence its scru- 

 tiny. In this manner, the Barred Owl may be followed to a considerable 

 distance, if not shot at, for to halloo after it does not 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 pomposity. This 

 Owl will answer the imitation of its own sounds, and is frequently decoyed 

 by this means. 



The flight of these Owls is smooth, light, noiseless, and capable of being 

 greatly protracted. Once, whilst descending the Ohio, not far from the 

 well-known Cave-in-rock, about two hours before sunset, 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 manner 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 describing small circles, and flapping its wings quickly, then flying in 

 Vol. I. 20 



