282 
STRIX NEBULOSA. 
day ; and, at the approach of night, thoir cries are he» 
proceeding' from every part of the forest around ’ 
plantations. Should the weather be lowering, 
indicative of the approach of rain, their cries arc f 
multiplied during the day, and especially in the eveui"'| 
and they respond to each other in tones so straaf r , 
that one might, imagine some extraordinary fete ab° l 
to take place among them. On approaching 0 ^ 
of them, its gesticulations are seen to he of a y. .j, 
extraordinary nature. The position of the bird, no 11 ' 
is generally erect, is immediately changed. It lo' v ’ t y 
its head, and inclines its body, to watch the motion 3 
the person beneath, throws forward the lateral featb* , 
of its head, which thus has the appearance of b* 1 -J 
surrounded by a broad ruff, looks towards him ;,!- 
half blind, and moves its head to and fro in so eS 
ordinary a manner, as almost to induce a person 
fancy that part dislocated from the body. It. fob 0 ', 
all the motions of the intruder with its eyes; ®!'j 
should it suspect any treacherous intentions, flies oV 
a short distance, alighting with its hack to the p e(S< y 
and immediately turning about with a single jump’ i 
recommence its scrutiny. In this manner, the b* rr p i 
owl may he followed to a considerable distance, h 
shot at, for to halloo after it does not seem to fr'gb f 
it much. But if shot at, and missed, it removes « 
considerable distance, after which its whah-w7tah- w '‘i\ 
is uttered with considerable pomposity. This o»'l 
answer the imitation of its own sounds, and is frequ® 0 ' 
decoyed by this means. . a( » 
“ The flight of the barred owl is smooth, light, n . 0 ' lV { 
less, and capable of being greatly protracted. I 
seen them take their departure from a detached 
in a prairie, and pursue a direct course toward*.^ 
skirts of the main forest, distant more than two 
in broad daylight. I have thus followed them with ^ 
eye until they were lost in the distance, and 
reason to suppose that they continued their 1 ^ 
until they reached the woods. Once, whilst desc*' 1 
the Ohio, not far from the well known Cave-in'^ 
