RED OWL. 
99 
28. STRIX ASIO, WILSON. RED OWL. 
WILSON, PLATE XLII. FIG, I. 
)j is another of our nocturnal wanderers, well 
""" common name, the Little Screech Owl ; 
In ft)’’ '•‘S melancholy quivering- kind of wailing 
^ liie evenings, particularly toivards the latter part of 
'n specimen I kept for several weeks in the room 
me. It was caught in a barn, whore it had taken 
^1’ Its L.i.r.. r... .1 L. ; p 
‘®usi 
^ Hiller and autumn, near the farm house. On clear 
j) J'J'ikght nights, they answer each other from various 
lb' I *^^® O’’ orchard; roo.st during the day in 
*^®’'8'''ooi’s, such a-s cedar, ])ine, or juniper trees, 
toi I’arely seen abroad in sunshine. In May, they 
(jj ^h'uct their nest in the hollow of a tree, often in 
ijj.® Orchard in an old apple tree ; the nest is composed 
soiue hay and a few feathers ; the eggs are four, 
white, and nearly round. The young arc at first 
oted with a whitish down. 
Sill- 
lodging, probably for the greater convenience of 
fe^7'iig ; and being unhurt, I had an opportunity of 
f(,f*i'''king its manners. At first, it struck itself so 
’ .*iy against the window, as frequently to deprive it, 
iJo,r'''Sly, of all sensation for several minutes ; this was 
1 ® So repeatedly, that I began to fear that either the 
"Uv owl’s skull must give way. In a few days, 
lb(> it eithei- began to comprehend sonietbing of 
Psp ^’Htter, or to take disgust at the glass, for it never 
tbbji?;*'®il its attempts ; and soon became quite tame and 
j liar. Those who have seen this bird only in the 
form but an imperfect idea of its activity, and 
Tlir '^I’l'ightlincss, in its projier season of exercise, 
its t*“8liout the day, it was all stillness and gravity; 
sl^^^®'ids half shut, its nock contracted, and its head 
tiiR seemingly into its body ; but scarcely was the 
twilight began to ai)]iroach, when its eyes 
"He full amt sparkling, like two living globes of tire ; 
This appears to be the young of the mottled owl. 
