14 
THE BARN OWL. 
An owl is an owl all the world over, whether under 
the influence of Moraus, Venus, or Diana. 
When farmers complain, that the barn owl de- 
stroys the eggs of their pigeons, they lay the saddle 
on the wrong horse. They ought to put it on 
the rat. Formerly I could get very few young 
pigeons till the rats were excluded effectually from 
the dovecot. Since that took place, it has produced 
a great abundance every year, though the barn 
owls frequent it, and are encouraged all around 
it. The barn owl merely resorts to it for repose 
and concealment. If it were really an enemy to 
the dovecot, we should see the pigeons in com- 
motion as soon as it begins its evening flight ! but 
the pigeons heed it not : whereas, if the sparrow- 
hawk or hobby should make its appearance, the 
whole community would be up at once ; proof 
sufficient that the barn owl is not looked upon as a 
bad, or even a suspicious, character by the inhabit- 
ants of the dovecot. 
Till lately, a great and well-known distinction 
has always been made betwixt the screeching and 
the hooting of owls. The tawny owl is the only 
owl which hoots ; and when I am in the woods 
after poachers, about an hour before daybreak, I 
hear with extreme delight its loud, clear, and sono- 
rous notes, resounding far and near through hill 
and dale. Very different from these notes is the 
screech of the barn owl. But Sir William Jardine 
informs us, that this owl hoots ; and that he has 
shot it in the act of hooting. This is stiff autho- 
rity ; and I believe it because it comes from the 
