4
1898.
Feb. 7
(No.2)
Cambridge, Mass.
The loud noise and the agitation of the tree startled
the bird considerably but instead of flying as we 
all expected he would do he merely bent forward
and gazed intently down at the prostrate man and 
ladder. We remained motionless for a few moments
after which Walter, going around to the opposite side
of the tree and waving the camera slowly, succeeded
in attracting the Owl's attention while Gilbert again
climbed the ladder and slowly extending his hand
from beneath and a little the bird caught it by
the feet. It snapped its bill sharply and rapidly
when seized. I put it into a large cage where it
remained quiet until night fall after which it fluttered
a good deal against the wires. A dead House Sparrow
which I left in the cage was untouched the next 
morning.
[margin]Notes on
a captive 
Saw-whet[/margin]
  On looking closely about the garden I found on the
snow beneath a red cedar numerous feathers from the
wings, tail and body, of a House Sparrow and beneath
the hollow, vine-enshrouded trunk of an old apple tree
a very small pellet composed of
[margin]Feb. 13, 1898[/margin]
  The Saw-whet is still alive and apparently healthy. He is
rapidly becoming tame and no longer flutters against
the bars of his cage. The House Sparrow lay untouched in
the cage for four days when it was removed. A dead
white mouse was substituted and promptly eaten (all
but the head) on the following night. Yesterday at
about noon the bird gave the saw-whetting call at
frequent intervals for an hour or more the weather,
at the time being dark & [?]. He called again at noon
to-day when the sun was shining brightly. At close