168 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STAIRS. 



same length of time. Mr. F. H. Carpenter had a pair breed in confine- 

 ment and gives the length of incubation as twenty-two days. (Or- 

 nithologist and Oologist, vol. vin, 1883, pp. 93, 94.) In the latter 

 part of May or first of June families composed of old and young some- 

 times may be started at dusk from the clumps of bushes bordering 

 streams, or in the vicinity of old orchards. 



The little Screech Owl is one of the most nocturnal of our species, 

 seldom moving out of its retreat until twilight. Its flight is regular, 

 and when indistinctly seen in the dusk it much resembles that of the 

 woodcock. If suddenly started on a bright day it flies around in a 

 bewildered manner, but soon becomes accustomed to the light and ap- 

 parently sees perfectly well. During the day it usually remains hid- 

 den in the hollows of trees or more rarely among the thick foliage. 

 Here it is occasionally espied by some keen-eyed songster prying in 

 every nook and corner while in search of food. The little bird is not 

 slow in making its discovery known to others in the neighborhood, 

 who at the first note of alarm hurry to the spot. Soon an irritated 

 mob, including perhaps a dozen species, surround poor Megascops and 

 make life so uncomfortable that he is forced to seek another place, only 

 to be followed and harassed by his tormentors. To escape these fre- 

 quent indignities he chooses the dark cavities in hollow trees in prefer- 

 ence to other and less secure hiding places. 



During cold weather in the north it not un frequently inhabits barns. 

 Mr. Mcllwraith, of Hamilton, Canada, states: " During some winters 

 there is scarcely a farm in the country which has not its Screech Owl in 

 the barn." (Birds of Ontario, 1886, p. 157.) 



When kept in confinement the Screech Owl is one of the most inter- 

 esting of pets, and although not so active on bright days as might be 

 desired, it is usually so kind and affectionate as fully to compensate for 

 its sluggishness. It soon learns to take food from the hand and will 

 allow a moderate amount of handling by its master. It is very fond of 

 water and will drink or bathe eagerly when a fresh supply is placed in 

 the cage. Once about dusk the writer came upon a small family which 

 had emerged the moment before from the water. They were sitting on 

 some low alders over a shallow portion of the stream, ruffling up and 

 shaking the water from their feathers, and presented a soaked and 

 forlorn appearance. Apparently they were too wet to be able to fly 

 well, for when approached they fluttered off heavily into the thicket 

 and soon escaped from sight in the growing darkness. The number of 

 times this Owl has been drowned in water barrels indicates its fondness 

 for bathing. The following note by Mr. A. W. Anthony, of an incident 

 in Washington County, Oregon, unquestionably refers to a bird caught 

 while attempting to bathe: "One was caught in a steel trap set in a 

 deep, narrow ditch. As the trap was sunk at least 4 inches under 

 water, and was not baited, it is a puzzle to me how the bird was 

 caught." (Auk, vol. in, 1880, p. 165.) 



