THE LITTLE OR ACADIAN OWL. 
125 
sharp and shrill, and seemed so close behind me that I started involuntarily. 
Having carefully examined all the adjacent trees without success, I was 
about giving it up in despair, when the note which first attracted my atten- 
tion seemed to come in the former direction. Before I had advanced many 
steps, the sound changed as before ; at one moment it seemed behind me, 
the next upon the right hand, then upon the left, and then it resumed its 
former distant mellow tone. This occurred so often, that I was completely 
puzzled and tempted to give up the pursuit, but still the desire of finding out 
the origin of the sound urged me on. After proceeding a considerable dis- 
tance farther, I found that the bell-like sound now came from the opposite 
direction, and seemed far beyond the spot where I first heard it. Retracing 
my steps I entered a small cleared spot, in the centre of which stood a black 
birch, whose dead and decayed top projected beyond a vigorous growth of 
fresh branches, by which its sides were clothed. As I seated myself upon a 
prostrate log, the shrill note was suddenly resumed, and from the direction 
of the sound I was convinced that it proceeded from the birch tree. Almost 
breathless with expectation, I carefully examined the tree from top to bot- 
tom, but the secret still remained concealed. Moving cautiously round, I 
examined the other side of the tree, but with no better success, until going 
to the root, and directing my eye along the trunk, I observed a small pro- 
tuberance, which at first appeared to be a knot. Inspecting it more closely, 
however, I found it to be the head of the Little G-rey Owl, protruded from 
a small aperture, which probably formed the entrance of its nest. Though 
standing directly beneath the bird, it did not seem to observe me, but con- 
tinued to call for its mate. While watching the Owl, I observed with no 
little sui'prise that the sound which I thought came from a distance, as well 
as that which was near, actually proceeded from the same source. This 
singular power of altering the voice I have never found in any other bird, 
and to me it appeared analogous to that by which ventriloquists are able to 
make the voice seem near or remote. Having enjoyed the pleasing decep- 
tion for some time, I left the little performer unmolested, feeling abundantly 
recompensed for my long tramp through mire and slush by the curious dis- 
covery. This was the only time I ever heard the note of this Owl. Fre- 
quently I have had it alive, but it was invariably silent, and, like the Strix 
flammea, would sometimes feign itself dead ; and last winter I shot one 
which was placed upon its back in a scale, and handled a good deal, yet 
it shewed no signs of life until thrown into a box, when it started up, and 
looked about sharply enough.” 
In all parts of the United States where this species occurs it is a perma- 
nent resident. 
