THE WHITE OWL. 559 



' " Its cry," says he, " is waah, waahka, which one is tempted to 

 compare with the affected laugh of a votary of fashion. Often in my 

 distant excursions, when encamped under the trees, and roasting a 

 slice of venison or squirrel by means of a wooden spit, I have been 

 greeted with the laughter of this nocturnal disturber. It stopped at a 

 few paces from me, exposing its whole body to the gleam of my fire, 

 and looking at me in such an odd way, that had I not feared to make 

 a fool of myself in my own eyes, I should have politely invited him 

 to come and partake of my supper. This bird visits Louisiana, and 

 is met with in all the most isolated woods, even in open day. If it 

 appears likely to rain, it laughs louder than ever ; its waah, waahha, 

 penetrates into the most remote recesses of the woods, and its 

 comrades answer it in strange and discordant tones ; one might 

 almost think that the owl nation was celebrating some extraordinary 

 ftte." 



Audubon adds that when you approach one of these birds it 

 thoroughly scrutinises you, assuming at the same time the most 

 grotesque attitudes. If any one fires at it and misses, it flies away, 

 but stops at a little distance and utters its mocking cry. 



The name Hawk Owls has been given to this genus, as it serves as 

 a transition from the nocturnal to the diurnal birds of prey. In fact, 

 although by their general shape and physical conformation they 

 evidently belong to the former, they are also connected with the latter 

 by their habits and mode of hunting, which are very like those of the 

 Sparrow Hawk • hence their name. They are easily recognised by 

 their long and tapering tail, and by their free and bold gait. They 

 form a very characteristic group, and the species, which are four in 

 number, present but little diversity. 



The White Owl {Nicteivea), sometimes called the Harfang, can be 

 tamed; but it must not be closely confined. It requires both air 

 and space to move about at will. Under these conditions it con- 

 stitutes a useful auxiliary to the farmer, and will advantageously take 

 the place of several cats, for it possesses great strength and equal 

 courage ; but if it is kept in a cage it refuses food, and dies after a 

 few days' captivity. 



The White Owl may be found in all parts of Europe, Asia, and 

 North America. Its plumage is a brilliant white, with some black 

 spots on the head. This colour is well suited to the nature of the 

 places in which it lives, for it sometimes inhabits the most desolate 

 solitudes to the north of America : Newfoundland, Hudson's Bay, 

 Greenland, Iceland, and the neighbouring islands. Thanks to its 

 colour, which harmonises so perfectly with all around, it is enabled 



