WHITE, OR BARN OWL. 
Ill 
34. 
'^IL, 
SUBGENUS in. STBTX, SAVIGNV. 
STBIX FLAXtMEA, LINNiEUS WHITE, OK BARN OWL. 
PLATE L. no. II. EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
owl, though SO common in Europe, is rare in 
il^*. part of the United States, and is ouly found here 
very severe winters. This may possibly he 
to the waut of those favourite reccs.ses in this 
®t the world, which it so much affects in the 
'■''n continent. The multitudes of old ruined castles, 
lij. monasteries, and cathedrals, that eveiywhere 
t'ie'v in those countries, are the chosen haunts of 
wf, "’ell-known species. Its savaf;e cries at uight give. 
Vulgar minds, a cast of supernatural horror to 
ijv Venerable mouldering’ piles ol itutiquity. This 
being common to both continents, doubtless 
to the arctic regions. It also inhabits Tartary, 
according to Pennant, “ the Mongols and natives 
P'ly it divine honours, because they attribute to 
t 5 ,*.*Peoies the preservation of the founder of them 
CJinghis Khan. That prince, with his small 
happened to he surprised and put to flight by his 
and forced to conceal himself in a little coppice; 
'Mu ^ Settled ou the hush under which he was hid, and 
it j^‘=d his pursuers not to search there, as they thought 
pi^^Possihle that any man could he concealed in a 
* '' here that bird would perch. From thenceforth 
Uf ^eld it to he sacred, and every one wore a plume 
^ leathers of this species on his head. To this day 
Ilf ^^^'lucs continue the ciis 
custom on all great festivals ; 
''’Ifi tribes have an idol in form of an owl, to 
T? . fasten the real legs of one.”# 
>Uer species is rarely found in Pennsylvania in sum- 
• Of its place and manner of building, I am unable, 
' 1 ’*'y own observation, to speak. 1 he bird itself 
"Mb, 
®eR several times found in the hollow of a tree. 
Arctic Zoology, p. 235. 
