THE BROWN OWL. 
85 
“ An Eagle Owl in my possession remains quiet during the day, unless he is shown some, 
prey, when he becomes eager to possess it, and when it is put within his reach, at once 
clutches it, and retires to a corner to devour it at leisure. During night he is extremely active, 
and sometimes keeps up an incessant bark. It is so similar to that of a cur or terrier, as to 
annoy a large Labrador house-dog, who expresses his dissatisfaction by replying to him, and 
disturbing the inmates nightly. I at first mistook the cry also for that of a dog, and, without, 
any recollection of the Owl, sallied forth to destroy the disturber of our repose ; and it was 
not until tracing the sound to the cage, that I became satisfied of the author of the annoyance 0 
I have remarked that he barks more incessantly during a clear winter night than at any other 
time, and the thin air at that season makes the cry very distinctly heard to a considerable 
distance. This bird also shows a great antipathy to dogs, and will perceive one at a consid- 
erable distance, nor is it possible to distract his attention so long as the animal remains in 
sight. When first perceived, the feathers are raised, and the wings lowered as when feeding, 
and the head moved round, following the object while in sight. If food is thrown, it will be 
struck with the foot and held, but no further attention paid to it.” 
The nest of this bird is extremely large, and consists of a large bundle of sticks, grass, 
leaves, and feathers, placed in the fork of some large bough, and containing three or four 
white eggs. The color of the Virginian Eared Owl is reddish brown upon the upper surface, 
mottled with various splashes of black, and covered with regular bands of the same hue. 
The facial disc is brown, edged with black. The under surface is of a light reddish-brown 
color, covered with numerous transverse bars of dusky brown, with a few white lines and 
dashes among them. The throat is pure white, the beak and claws are black, and the eyes are 
of a bright orange, gleaming out strangely even by day and burning with double radiance in 
the twilight. 
The Great Horned Owl, or Virginian Eared Owl {Bubo mrginianus) has a range 
of habitat from Eastern North America, south of Labrador, west to the Missouri, and south 
through the Atlantic region to Mexico. Three very marked varieties are known, in as many 
different and remote parts of the country. 
The two trivial names and the specific term mrginianus are absurdly chosen for this 
bird. There are neither horns nor ears showing in the prominent tufts of feathers on the bird’s 
head. It is by no means especially Virginian. 
This bird is a permanent inhabitant in New England. Wilson says of him : “ His favorite 
residence is in the deep solitude of swamps covered with a growth of gigantic timber ; and here, 
as soon as evening draws on, and mankind retires to rest, he sends forth such sounds as seem 
scarcely to belong to this world, startling the solitary pilgrim, as he slumbers by the forest 
fire, making night hideous.” 
The common Brown Owl, or Tawny Owl, as it is often named, is, with the exception of 
the Barn Owl, one of the best known of the Owls. 
Although rather a small bird, being only about fifteen inches in total length, it is possessed 
of a powerful pounce and audacious spirit, and when roused to anger or urged by despair, is a 
remarkably unpleasant antagonist. 
The following is a curious account of the conduct of a pair of Brown Owls, who built a 
nest in the attic of an untenanted house. The writer of this account proceeds to say : “ I should 
ha\e been a little afraid of molesting them, so ferocious did the old gentleman look when his 
wife and children were approached. One morning the cat was missing, and I found, on inquiry, 
that some strange sounds had been heard the evening before in the room where the Owls were. 
On going up that evening I found poor puss quite dead, one of her eyes actually picked out, 
and her antagonist, also killed, lying on the side of the nest. The mamma Owl was absent, 
probably in search of food, but she may have been present and have assisted at the death! 
I have seen a cat on another occasion cowed by an old Owl that came down the chimney into 
the dining-room.” 
