Jan., 1911 
A HISTORY OF CIUITAIX GRKAT IIORXIU) OWLS 
1,1 
up and down on a nearby limb and clearly ready to come again. Under the cir- 
cuimstances I .slid down the ladder to firmer vantage ground. The slash which 
began on the left cheek and ran across the left ear was rather ugly but not danger- 
ous. Considering the eight claws. of a Great Horned Owl, each an inch and a 
(piarter in length, I had gotten off easily. Evidently onl_v one claw had taken effect, 
the curvature of the great tree trunk and m\' clinging position over the nest rim 
having given, doubtless, some protection. The numbness was probabh- caused b\- the 
stroke of a rushing wdng. 
When on May 9 I was again comi^elled to visit the nest alone I knew what to 
expect and so was constantly on m\- guard. Aliout three .seconds study of the >-oung- 
birds and nest contents was alternated with about the same amount of scrutiin- of the 
immediate horizon. In this 
way it was po.ssible to define 
an adult owl's manner of at- 
tack. Three times on this oc- 
casion one of the birds flew 
in from a neighboring tree and 
with strong stroke of wing 
came straight at my head. It 
was not at all the stoop of 
hawk or falcon, but rather the 
onrush of a heav\’ projectile 
with a very flat trajectory. 
Like a large projectile too the 
flight was visible and so all the 
more disconcerting; unlike a 
projectile it was noiseless as a 
flying shadow. Audubon 
speaks of the hunting flight of 
the Great Horned Owl as being 
incredibly swift and, kind 
reader, I am (pute ready to 
agree wflth him. The big bird, 
perched on a branch from 
thirty to fifty feet away, first 
shifts nervously from one foot 
to the other, then launches swiftly into space. There is just time to brace oneself a 
little, swing one’s cap, and (iuickl\' duck one’s head as the great mi.ssile rushes ixist. 
The owl keeps straight on her course and alights with heav>’ impact on a branch of a 
neighboring tree. Here she faces about and very likeh' comes straight back again. 
This process became finally a bit too e.xciting and, after making certain that the 
headless (puidruped l\-ing in the nest over behind the owlets was jmst a big house rat, I 
slipped down the ladder and went home. 
February 7, 1907, was cold and clear after the terrific snow storm of the night 
before. On this day Mr. James R. Smith, a young farmer of the vicinit\- who had 
always been interested in birds and who was destined to be m\- skillful assistant 
throughout the season, accompanied me to the snow-covered timber ])asture. As 
we approached the nest tree of the year before a fox scjuirrel leaped from one of the 
smaller adjacent trees and, starting up the big elm, ran along the rim of the great knot- 
hole which formed the owls’ doorwa>- and scampered on to a topmost branch. If 
the owl were at home the sauc\- fellow surely passed within ten inches of her face. 
.\PRIL 13, 1907; OWI.KTS OK V.\RIOUS minds; .\ok 
TUIRTY-TWO to THIRTV-SI.X DAVS 
