OWL. 305 



the upper parts brown, variegated with slender, rufous, and cinereous 

 lines; beneath pale ash-colour, transversely striped with brown ; 

 throat white ; lower part of the neck and sides of the breast, orange 

 brown, spotted with darker brown ; the middle part of the breast, 

 the belly, and other parts beneath, pale ash-colour, striated with 

 brown ; quills and tail banded with the same ; legs and half the 

 toes covered with cinereous feathers. 



Inhabits Virginia and various other parts of North and South 

 America ; is not unfrequent at Hudson's Bay, in the woods, build- 

 ing in March, a nest composed of a few sticks laid across, and for the 

 most part placed on the pine trees ; lays two or three, rarely four, 

 white eggs, and the yomig fly in June ; is called by the natives 

 Natowokey Omissew ; sometimes makes the nest in a hollow tree. 



Mr. Abbot informs me, that it is not uncommon in Georgia ; is 

 nearly two feet long, and fifty inches in extent of wing ; on each side 

 of the breast a bunch of loose feathers, coveiing the sides of it, and 

 under the wings, which caii be made to meet over the belly ; the 

 feathers of the breast also long and loose, and the outer web of the 

 exterior quill feather serrated on the edge. It is observed to be fond 

 of poultry, insomuch that it will often get into a hen house, if a 

 smail door or window be left open. 



We learn that the Owl was held as an emblem of w isdom by the 

 ancients, and Bartram'^* informs us, that the junior priests or students 

 among the Creek Indians, carry about them a stuffed bird of this 

 species, sometimes wearing it as a crest upon the head, or borne on 

 the arm or hand; these bachelors being naturally of a taciturn, grave, 

 and solemn disposition, or affecting to be so, suppose that the 

 bearing such a symbol adds to their consequence. 



* Trav. p. 502. 

 vol,. I. 11 B 



