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given the liver of that animal to the bird, and 
found that it appeared to be very fond of it. 
This bird, when alarmed, snaps its beak 
together with great force ; it also snores and 
hisses in a violent manner, and while it flies 
along, will often scream tremendously ; and 
as it frequently approaches windows where 
there is light in the room, a circumstance very 
common in apartments of the sick at all 
hours of the night, its voice is equally appalling 
to the superstitious invalid and his friends. 
The Mongul and Kalmuc Tartars pay the 
greatest honors to this bird, attributing to it 
the preservation of Jenghis Khan, the founder 
of their empire. That Prince, with a small 
army, happened to be surprised and put to 
flight by his enemies. Compelled to seek 
concealment in a coppice, an Owl of this 
species settled on the bush under which he 
was hidden. This circumstance induced his 
pursuers not to search there, since they sup- 
posed it impossible that that bird would perch 
where any man was concealed. Jenghis 
Khan escaped; and thenceforth his country- 
men held the Owl sacred, and every one wore 
a plume of its feathers on his head. To this 
