THE VIRGINIAN EARED OWL. 
83 
in Ms well-known “Field Sports,” gives the following description of the Eagle Owl as it 
appears in the Scandinavian forests. 
“ These Owls, Dr. Mellerborg assured me, will sometimes destroy dogs. Indeed, he him- 
self once knew an instance of the kind. He states another circumstance, showing the ferocity 
of these birds, which came under his notice. Two men were in the forest for the purpose of 
getting berries, when one of them happening to approach near to the nest of the Owl, she 
pounced on him while he was in the act of stooping, and fixing her talons in his back, wounded 
him very severely. His companion, however, was fortunately near at hand, who, catching up 
a stick, lost no time in destroying the furious bird. 
“Mr. Nilsson states that these Owls not unfrequently engage in combat with the eagle 
himself, and that they often come off victorious. These powerful and voracious birds, that 
gentleman remarks, occasionally kill the fawns of the stag, roebuck, and reindeer. The largest 
of the birds common to the Scandinavian forests, such as the capercali, often become their 
prey. The hooting of these Owls may often be heard during the night-time in the northern 
forests ; the sound, which is a most melancholy one, and which has given rise to many super- 
stitions, is audible at a long distance.” This bird is also most invaluable in destroying the 
lemmings. 
The cry of the Eagle Owl is a very deep and doleful note, sounding most lugubriously in 
the depth of the lonely forests during the hours of night. When angry, the bird utters a 
sharp Mss, not unlike the sound which is produced by the common brown Owl when irritated. 
It is generally seen during the twilight hours, although it sometimes continues to search after 
prey during the entire night. While engaged in hunting, it flies low over the ground, and 
displays great quickness of eye and wing in discerning and pouncing upon everything that has 
life and can be eaten. This bird has been employed for the purpose of decoying falcons towards 
the snare, by being fastened in a convenient spot where it can be seen by any passing bird. 
The falcon cannot possibly resist the pleasure of dashing at the great, solemn, winking bird, 
and is accordingly captured in the fowler’ s ready net as he swoops after the Owl, which runs 
for refuge precisely in the direction of the toils. 
The length of this fine bird is rather more than two feet, and the aspect of its outstretched 
wings is wonderfully magnificent. The general color of the Eagle Owl is brown, mingled with 
a yellow tinge, and covered on the upper surface with bars, dashes, and streaks of blackish- 
brown. The facial disc is pale brown, decorated with many small spots of black, and the 
under surface of the body is nearly yellow, traversed by longitudinal stripes of black upon 
the chest, and barred transversely with many bars of dark brown on the abdomen. The legs 
and thighs are pale brown, with many narrow bars of a darker hue. The long armed claws 
are black, and the beak is also nearly black. The eyes are of a bright radiant orange, and 
have a very fierce appearance when the bird looks the spectator in the face. The female is 
rather larger than the male, the difference in length being about four inches. 
The ViBGiNiAisr Eased Owl holds the same place in America as the eagle Owl in Europe, 
and is even now a familiar bird, though it has been extirpated from many localities where it 
once reigned supreme. 
It is a very large bird, nearly equalling the great Owl in magnitude, and being in no way 
its inferior in strength or courage. This species is found spread over the greatest portion of 
North America, and in former days did great damage among the poultry of the agriculturists, 
being a bold as well as a voracious bird. Now, however, the ever-ready rifle of the farmer has 
thinned its numbers greatly, and has inspired the survivors with such awe, that they mostly 
keep clear of cultivated lands, and confine themselves to seeking after their legitimate prey. 
The Virginian Eared or Horned Owl is a terrible destroyer of game, snatching up grouse, 
partridges, hares, ducks, sparrows, squirrels, and many other furred and feathered creatures, 
and not unfrequently striving after larger quarry. The wild turkey is a favorite article of diet 
with this Owl ; but on account of the extreme wariness of the turkey nature, the depredator 
finds an unseen approach to be no easy matter. The usual mode in which the Owl catches the 
turkey is, to find out a spot where its intended prey is quietly sleeping at night, and then to 
