STRIX NYCTEA. 
94 
In the town of Cincinnati, state of Ohio, two of 
birds alighted on the roof of the court house, 
alarmed the whole town. A people more disposed 
superstition, would have deduced some dire or fortuo* 
prognostication from their selecting such a place ; 
the only solicitude was how to get possession of 
which, after several volleys, was at length effect* 
One of these, a female, I afterwards examined, . 
on my way through that place to New Orleans. 
Bairdstown, in Kentucky, I met with a large and 
beautiful one, which appeared to be altogether unkno" j 
to the inhabitants of that quarter, and excited gence j 
surprise. A person living on the eastern shore ^ 
Maryland, shot one of these birds a few months 
a female ; and, having stuffed the skin, broug'ht 
Philadelphia, to Mr Peale, in expectation, no doubbj^ 
a great reward. I have examined eleven of these bit j 
within these fifteen months last past, in different ® 
very distant parts of the country, all of which 
shot either during winter, late in the fall, or early . 
spring ; so that it does not appear certain whether * 
remain during summer within the territory of * . 
United States ; though I think it highly probable 
a few do, in some of the more northeni inland p**' 
where they are most tiumerous during winter. > 
The colour of this bird is well suited for concealii>*''|j 
while roaming over the general waste of snows ; 
its flight strong and swift, very similar to that of ^*"11 
of om’ large hawks. Its hearing must be ex(jnisit*’ ) 
we judge from the largeness of these organs in it j 
its voice is so dismal, that, as Pennant observes, it ^ 
horror even to the regions of Greenland, by its hid** 
cries, resembling those of a man in deep distress.^ , 4 
The male of this species measures twenty-two .j. 
and a half in length, and four feet six inches in bi'c#*' j 
head and neck, nearly white, with a few small 
dull brown interspersed ; eyes, deep sunk, under 
jeering eyebrows, the ])himage at their internal 
fluted, or prest in, to admit direct vision ; below V*!^^ 
bristles up, covering nearly the whole bill ; the it* 
