84 
THE VIRGINIAN EARED OWL. 
swoop down suddenly upon the slumbering bird before it awakes. Sometimes, however, the 
Owl is baffled in a very curious manner. When the turkey happens to be roused by the rush 
of the winged foe, it instinctively ducks its head and spreads its tail flatly over its back. The 
Owl, impinging upon the slippery plane of stiff tail feathers, finds no hold for its claws, and 
glides off the back of its intended victim, which immediately dives into the brushwood before 
the Owl can recover from the surprise of its unexpected failure. 
The following admirable description of the Virginian Eared Owl, as it used to be in the 
earlier days of cultivation, is given by Audubon in his well-known History of the Birds of 
America. 
“It is during the placid serenity of a beautiful night, when the current of the waters 
moves silently along, reflecting from its smooth surface the silver radiance of the moon, and 
when all else of animated nature seems sunk in repose, that the great Horned Owl, one of the 
Mmrods of the feathered tribes of our forests, may be seen sailing silently and yet rapidly on, 
intent on the destruction of the object destined to form its food. 
“ The lone steersman of the descending boat observes the nocturnal hunter gliding on 
extended pinions across the river, sailing over one hill and then another, or suddenly sweeping 
downwards and again rising in the air like a moving shadow, now distinctly seen, and again 
mingling with the sombre shades of the surrounding woods, fading into obscurity. 
“The bird has now floated to some distance, and is opposite the newly-cleared patch of 
ground, the result of a squatter’s first attempt at cultivation in a place lately shaded by the 
trees of the forest. The moon shines brightly on his hut, his light fence, the newly-planted 
orchard, and a tree which, spared by the axe, serves as a roosting-place for the scanty stock 
of poultry which the new-comer has procured from some liberal neighbor. Amongst them 
rests a turkey -hen, covering her offspring with extended wings. 
“The great Owl, with eyes keen as those of any falcon, is now seen hovering above the 
place. He has already espied the quarry, and is sailing in wide circles, meditating his plan 
of attack. The turkey-hen, which at another time might be sound asleep, is now, however, so 
intent upon the care of her young brood, that she rises on her legs, and purrs so loudly as she 
opens her wings and spreads her tail, that she rouses her neighbors, the hens, together with 
their protector. The cacklings which they at first emit soon become a general clamor. 
“ The squatter hears the uproar, and is on his feet in an instant, rifle in hand ; the priming 
examined, he gently pushes open the half-closed door and peeps out cautiously, to ascertain 
the cause by which his repose has been disturbed. He observes the murderous Owl just 
alighting on the dead branch of a tall tree, when, raising his never-failing rifle, he takes aim, 
touches the trigger, and the next instant sees the foe falling dead to the ground. The bird is 
unworthy of his further attention, and is left a prey to some prowling opossum or other carniv- 
orous quadruped. In this manner falls many a Homed Owl on our frontier, where the species 
abounds.” 
The flight of this bird is remarkably powerful, easy, and graceful, as may be gathered 
from the enormous expanse of wing, in comparison with the weight and dimensions of the body. 
Its voice is of a hollow and weird -like character, and when heard by night from some spot on 
which the Owl has silently settled, is apt to cause many a manly but superstitious cheek to 
pale. As Wilson well observes, the loud and sudden cry of Waugh 0 ! Waugh 0 ! is sufficient 
to alarm a whole garrison of soldiers. Probably on account of the peculiar sounds which are 
uttered by this bird, the Cree Indians know it by the name of Otowuck-oho ! 
The Virginian Horned Owl takes up its residence in the deep swampy forests, where it 
remains hidden during the day, and comes out at night and morning, heralding its approach 
with its loud, unearthly cries, as of an unquiet, wandering spirit. Sometimes, according to 
Wilson, “he has other nocturnal solos, one of which very strikingly resembles the half- 
suppressed screams of a person suffocating or throttled.” 
Sir W. Jardine, in his notes to his well-known edition of Wilson’s American Ornithology, 
gives the following account of a captive Owl, which affords an excellent idea of the peculiar 
sounds that can proceed from an Owl’s throat. 
