











420 A COMICAL OWL. 
has been the object of this paper. The subject is one full 
of interest, —one that has received the attention of the most — 
vigorous intellects, and yet remains as full of undiscovered 
truths as in the beginning,—being, as are all the works of — 
nature, a field of infinite variety, inexhaustible. : 

A COMICAL OWL. 
BY CHARLES WRIGHT. 

Tue owl is called a solemn bird. It may be so; yet! 
have seen one in Cuba whose actions would upset the grav- 4 
ity of a very sober meeting. i 
The bird in question (Glaucidium Siju Orbigny) was 7 
taken young from the nest, and grew quite tame and famil- 3 
iar. His ordinary food consisted of lizards, though he would i 
eat moths and other large insects. His power of swallowing 
was surprising. From the first, almost, he could dispose of 4 
the smaller lizards; but soon gained strength and_throst 4 
capacity to take in specimens as long, if not quite s0 large, q 
as himself; even two, three, or more at a meal. He usually A 
commenced by tearing away, awhile, at the head, ma 4 
however, he did not seem to diminish much in size; a 
which came the effort, sometimes a protracted one, ai swale 4 
low it entire—head foremost. With time, however, it took a 
its regular supper (it had but one meal a day) with oe 
apparent effort, unless an uncommonly large bit was p= 
him. And so much did`his appetite increase, that een 
times a scarcity prevailed; whether it occurred from city 
neglect of the negrito to cater faithfully, or from ae p 
of the game. By day, he remained, solemnly, 1m tha 
dor, dosing away the lonely hours on a pigeon-¢0ag® i 
the beam supporting the eaves. Before learning w a 
at night, after candle-lighting, he was taken down ana pe q 
+ 
