The Barn Owl, as its name indicates, often passes the day in barns or out- 

 buildings, being drawn thither solely by the abundance of mice which such places 

 afford. It is said to be a very quiet, peaceable bird, offering no violence to the 

 poultry, not even to the pigeons which often share its quarters. When disturbed 

 during its slumbers it makes a hissing noise, or clicks its mandibles in a threaten- 

 ing way. It has besides a "peevish scream," and some querulous notes hard to 

 characterize further. Its very odd appearance arouses in the average farmer's 

 boy who discovers him a curiosity which is too seldom satisfied until the old 

 musket has been discharged and the best mouser in seven counties is reduced to 

 a mere heap of feathers. 



Of the breeding habits. Captain Charles Bendire says : "The Barn Owl, 

 strictly speaking, makes no nest. If occupying a natural cavity of a tree the eggs 

 are placed on the rubbish that may have accumulated on the bottom ; if in a bank 

 they are laid on the bare ground and among the pellets of fur and small bones 

 ejected by the parents. Frequently quite a lot of such material is found in their 

 burrows, the eggs lying on and among this refuse. Incubation usually commences 

 with the first egg laid, and lasts about three weeks. The eggs are almost invari- 

 ably found in different stages of development, and young may be found in the 

 same nest with fresh eggs. Both sexes assist in incubation and the pair may 

 sometimes be found sitting side by side, each with a portion of the eggs under 

 them." 



The Barn Owl should appeal to man because of two characteristics, — first, 

 its singular and almost weird beauty, and, second, its very great economic value 

 and almost total lack of harmful qualities. If it were a bird that was more fre- 

 quently seen its beautiful soft plumage of white and gold would attract the lovers 

 of color, but, being nocturnal in its habits, it is not often observed; indeed, even 

 where it is common, when one is shot its strange appearance leads the local news- 

 paper to publish a ridiculous account of a new and grotesque animal, part monkey 

 and part Owl. Like all other Owls, it still bears the weight of the superstitions 

 of over two thousand years; consequently the hand of man is yet against it. 

 Shortly after sundown this "pretty aerial wanderer of the night" commences 

 flitting to and fro "on wings so soft and silent" that it is scarcely heard. During 

 all its nightly wanderings it is working for mankind, its only enemy, while gather- 

 ing food for itself and perhaps a hungry brood of callow young. Then it is that 

 its peculiar screaming cry is heard, which no doubt is the basis of many of the 

 strange and uncanny stories related of Owls. In Europe this species is the Owl 

 of the ivy-covered tower and the ruined castle, and by its nightly wailings and 

 wanderings peoples the ruins with ghostly tenants. 



The late Major Bendire, in his "Life Histories," states : "The Barn Owl, 

 strictly speaking, makes no nest. If occupying a natural cavity of a tree, the 

 eggs are placed on the rubbish that may have accumulated at the bottom; if in 

 a bank, they are laid on the bare ground and among the pellets of fur and small 

 bones ejected by the parents. Frequently quite a lot of such material is found 



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