333
Concord, Mass.
1897.
Nov. 17
(No 2)
dozen times or more finally pitching sharply
upward and alighting on a dead, upright prong
of one of the larger pines that stand on the edge
of the brook. Up to this time I had taken it
for a Short-ear but putting my glass on it I
saw at once that it was a Long-nosed Owl.
I looked at it for several minutes and then
squeaked again. It left its perch at once and
came directly towards me but before it reached me
another and much larger bird of the same species
suddenly appeared directly over my head and literally
within reach of my hand. Then, to my amazement,
it poised for several seconds on loosely beating wings
not two feet from and directly above my upturned
face. Every time I squeaked it would drop its
legs to their full length with talons wide spread
apparently with the expectation of picking a mouse
off the crown of my hat. Indeed its behaviour
was so threatening that I was positively afraid 
to continue the invitation. Shortly after I stopped
it the bird alighted on the topmost slender twig
of a scrub oak within four or five yards of me
while the male returned to his former perch in 
the pine. I had them both alternately under
my glass for several minutes longer & in a sufficiently 
good light to be able to see all their characteristic
markings distinctly. One bird sat rather still, the 
other took a crouching position with the plumage
so puffed out that the bird looked nearly as big
as a Heron. Both showed their ear tufts but
these were not held erect as represented by stuffed