BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 115 



of small birds, field mice, moles or wood rats, from which it chiefly 

 derives its subsistence. * Sometimes on alighting, which it does 

 plumply, the Mottled Owl immediately bends its body, turns its head 

 to look behind it, performs a curious nod, utters its notes, then shakes 

 and plumes itself, and resumes its flight in search of prey. It now 

 and then, while on the wing, produces a clicking sound with its man- 

 dibles, but more frequently when perched near its mate or young. 

 This I have thought was done by the bird to manifest its courage, and 

 let the hearer know that it is not to be meddled with ; although few 

 birds of prey are more gentle when seized, as it will suffer a person to 

 touch its feathers and caress it without attempting to bite or strike with 

 its talons, unless at rare intervals. 



" The notes of this Owl are uttered in a tremulous, doleful manner, 

 and somewhat resemble the chattering of the teeth of a person under 

 the influence of extreme cold, although much louder. They are 

 heard at a distance of several hundred yards, and by some people* are 

 thought to be of ominous import." 



" The little fellow is generally found about farm-houses, orchards 

 and gardens. It alights on the roof, the fence or the garden gate, and 

 utters its mournful ditty, at intervals, for hours at a time, as if it were 

 in a state of great suffering, although this is far from being the case 

 the song of all birds being an indication of content and happiness. In 

 a state of confinement it utters its notes with as much satisfaction as 

 if at liberty. They are chiefly heard during the latter part of winter 

 that being the season of love, when the male bird is particularly at- 

 tentive to the fair one, which excites his tender emotions, and around 

 which he flies and struts much in the manner of the common Pigeon, 

 adding numerous nods and bows, the sight of which is very amusing." 

 Audubon. 



Prof. Samuel Aughey in his " Notes on the Nature of the Food of 

 the Birds of Nebraska," says the Screech Owl is largely an insect-eat- 

 ing bird. Mr. L. M. Turner informs me that he has made a number 

 of examinations of Screech Owls captured in Illinois, and very gen- 

 erally found their food consisted of such insects as the larger beetles 

 and grasshoppers, also many mice. Grasshoppers and other orthop- 

 terous insects are devoured in large quantities by these birds. 



During the summer months and at other times when insect life is 

 abundant the Screech Owls subsist mainly on an insect diet. These 

 birds also prey on mice, shrews, other small quadrupeds and small 

 birds In the twenty- seven stomach examinations, which I have re- 

 corded of birds, taken principally in the winter season, seventeen had 

 fed on mice and insects ; five, small birds ; three, mice and insects ; 

 two, small birds and insects. 



