BARRED OWL. 6 1 



the crotch of a white oak, among thick foliage. The nest was 

 rudely put together, composed outwardly of sticks, intermixed 

 with some dry grass and leaves, and lined with smaller twigs. 

 At another time, in passing through the woods, I perceived 

 something white, on the high shaded branch of a tree, close 

 to the trunk, that, as I thought, looked like a cat asleep. 

 Unable to satisfy myself, I was induced to fire, when, to my 

 surprise and regret, four young owls, of this same species, 

 nearly full grown, came down headlong, and, fluttering for a 

 few moments, died at my feet. Their nest was probably not 

 far distant. I have also seen the eggs of this species, which 

 are nearly as large as those of a young pullet, but much more 

 globular, and perfectly white. 



Bonaparte as inhabiting Arctic America, and met with by Dr Richardson 

 during the last northern expedition. It is the largest of the American 

 owls, exceeding even the size of the Virginian horned owl, and seems to 

 have been first noticed and described by Dr Latham, from Hudson's Bay 

 specimens. Dr Richardson has more lately given the following sketch 

 of its manners : — " It is by no means a rare bird in the Fur Countries, 

 being an inhabitant of all the woody districts lying between Lake 

 Superior and latitudes 67° or 68°, and between Hudson's Bay and the 

 Pacific. It is common on the borders of Great Bear Lake ; and there 

 and in the higher parallels of latitude it must pursue its prey, during 

 the summer months, by daylight. It keeps, however, within the woods, 

 and does not frequent the barren grounds, like the snowy owl, nor is 

 it so often met with in broad daylight as the hawk owl, but hunts 

 principally when the sun is low ; indeed, it is only at such times, when 

 the recesses of the woods are deeply shadowed, that the American hare 

 and the marine animals, on which this owl chiefly preys, come forth to 

 feed. On the 23d of May, I discovered a nest of this owl, built, on the 

 top of a lofty balsam poplar, of sticks, and lined with feathers. It con- 

 tained three young, which were covered with a whitish down. "We 

 could get at the nest only by felling the tree, which was remarkably 

 thick ; and whilst this operation was going on, the two parent birds 

 flew in circles round the objects of their care, keeping, however, so high 

 in the air as to be out of gunshot : they did not appear to be dazzled 

 by the light. The young ones were kept alive for two months, when 

 they made their escape. They had the habit, common also to other owls, 

 of throwing themselves back, and making a loud snapping noise with 

 their bills, when any one entered the room in which they were kept." 

 —Ed. 



