57 



WHITE, OR BARN OWL. 

 STEIX FLAMMEA. 

 [Plate L.— Fig. 2.] 



Lath. I, 138.— ^rcf. Zool, p, 235, JVo. 124.— P/iiL Trans. Ill, ±58.— L'Effraie, ou L'Effrasaief 

 Buff. I, 366, pi. 26. PZ. ewl. 440. — ^Bewick's British Birds, I, p. 89. — Common Oivl, Turt. SijsL 

 p. 170 Peace's Museum, JVo. 486. 



THIS Owl, tho so common in Europe, is much rarer in this 

 part of the United States than the preceding; and is only found 

 here during very severe winters. This may possibly be owing to 

 the want of those favorite recesses in this part of the world, which 

 it so much affects in the eastern continent. The multitudes of old 

 ruined castles, towers, monasteries and cathedrals that every where 

 rise to view in those countries, are the chosen haunts of this well 

 known species. Its savage cries at night give, with vulgar minds, a 

 cast of supernatural horror to those venerable mouldering piles of 

 antiquity. This species, being common to both continents, doubt- 

 less extends to the arctic regions. It also inhabits Tartary, where, 

 according to Pennant, " the Monguls and natives almost pay it di- 

 vine honours, because they attribute to this species the preserva- 

 tion of the founder of their empire, Cinghis Khan. That prince, 

 with his small army, happened to be surprised and put to flight by 

 his enemies, and forced to conceal himself in a little coppice : an 

 Owl settled on the bush under which he was hid, and induced his 

 pursuers not to search there, as they thought it impossible that any 

 man could be concealed in a place where that bird would perch. 

 From thenceforth they held it to be sacred, and every one wore a 

 plume of the feathers of this species on his head. To this day the 

 Kalmucs continue the custom on all great festivals; and some 



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