92 



NORTH AMERICA. 



It has also been seen white in the United States. It preys on young rabbits, squirrels, rais, 

 mice, partridges, and small birds of various kinds. It has been often known to prowl about a 

 farm house, and carry off chickens from the roost. The great horned owl is not migratory, 

 but remains with us the whole year. He is very rarely seen abroad by day, and never but 

 when disturbed. The nest is generally placed in the fork of a tall tree ; it is constructed of 

 sticks piled in considerable quantities, and lined with dry leaves and a few feathers. The 

 female lays four white eggs, nearly as large as those of a hen. 



Mr. Audubon gives the following amusing description of the Barred Owl (S. JS\hulosa)^ 

 which is very abundant in Louisiana. " How often when snugly settled under the boughs of 

 my temporary encampment, and preparing to roast a venison steak or the body of a squirrel, on 

 a wooden spit, have I been saluted with the exulting bursts of this nightly disturber of the peace, 

 that, had it not been for him, would have prevailed around me, as well as in my lonely retreat ! 

 How often have I seen this nocturnal marauder alight whhin a few yards of me, exposing his 

 whole body to the glare of my fire, and eye me in such a curious manner, that had it been 

 reasonable to do so, I would have invited him to walk in and join me in my repast, that I might 

 have enjoyed the pleasure of forming a better acquaintance with him. The liveliness of his 

 motions, joined to their oddness, have often made me think, that his society would be at leasi 

 as agreeable as that of many of the buflbons we meet with in the world." 



The Screech Owl^ though found in the Southern States, is very rare there. Mr. Flint say;t 

 of the owls, " we have noted a great many varieties of this bird. Their hooting and screaming, 

 in every variety of tone and sound, often imitating the cry of human distress or laughter, and 

 sometimes the shrieks of a babe, are heard all over this valley, in the deep forests and bottoms. 

 We have heard forty at a time in the lower courses of the Mississippi." 



The JMeadow Lark (Alauda magna) frequents pastures, fields, and meadows, where it finds 



an abundant supply of seeds and insects. It gene- 

 rally alights on trees or bushes at the tops of the 

 branches, where it sends forth a long, clear, and 

 melancholy note, that in sweetness and tenderness 

 of expression is not equalled by any of our war- 

 blers. The nest is built in a thick tuft of grass, 

 and is composed of dry grass, laid with great 

 regularity. It is rarely or never seen in the 

 depths of the woods. In Virginia, this bird is 

 called the Old-Field Lark. 



The Baltimore Oriole (fclerus Ballimcre) de- 

 rives its name from its colors ; being black and 

 orange, which are those of the livery of Lord Baltimore. In the formation of his nest he dis- 

 plays superior skill, and is so solicitous to 

 procure proper materials, that he will often 

 carry oft" thread that is bleaching, the farm- 

 er's young grafts and the strings that tie them, 

 to serve his purposes in building. His food 

 consists of bugs, caterpillars, and beetles, and 

 his song, which is wild and playful, is a clear, 

 mellow whistle, which he repeats at intervals. 

 He is honored with a variety of names, suclj 

 as hang-nest, hanging-bird, golden robbin, 

 firebird, &c. 



The Redivinged Oriole., or Black Bird (I. 

 phceniceus), is known by a variety of names, 

 as the swamp blackbird, corn or maize thief, 

 marsh blackbird, &c. They are migratory 

 in the Northern States, but are found during 

 the winter in the Middle and Southern States, 

 in immense numbers, where the profuse glean- 

 ngs of the rice, corn, and buckwheat fields supply them with abundant food. With this harm- 

 less plunder they are not satisfied, but find great satisfaction in eating the young and tender corn, 

 at which time they make great havoc Thev build their nests in swampy places, of reeds and 



Meado-io Lark. 



Baltimore Oriole. 



