THE BARRED OWL. 
. 133 
reasonable to do so, I would gladly have invited him to walk in and join 
me in my repast, that I might have enjoyed the pleasure of forming a better 
acquaintance with him. The liveliness of his motions, joined to their odd- 
ness, have often made me think that his society would be at least as agree- 
able as that of many of the buffoons we meet with in the world. 
Such persons as conclude, when looking upon Owls in the glare of day, 
that they are, as they then appear, extremely dull, are greatly mistaken. 
The Barred Owl is found in all those parts of the United States which I 
have visited, and is a constant resident. In Louisiana it seems to be more 
abundant than in any other state. It is almost impossible to travel eight or 
ten miles in any of the retired woods there, without seeing several of them, 
even in broad day ; and, at the approach of night, their cries are heard pro- 
ceeding from every part of the forest around the plantations. Should the 
weather be lowering, and indicative of the approach of rain, their cries are 
so multiplied during the day, and especially in the evening, and they respond 
to each other in tones so strange, that one might imagine some extraordinary 
fdte about to take place among them. On approaching one of them, its 
gesticulations are seen to be of a very extraordinary nature. The position 
of the bird, which is generally erect, is immediately changed. It lowers 
its head and inclines its body, to watch the motions of the person beneath, 
throws forward the lateral feathers of its head, which thus has the appear- 
ance of being surrounded by a broad ruff, looks towards him as if half blind, 
and moves its head to and fro in so extraordinary a manner, as almost t® 
induce a person to fancy that part dislocated from the body. It follows all 
the motions of the intruder with its eyes ; and should it suspect any trea- 
cherous intentions, flies off to a short distance, alighting with its back to 
the person, and immediately turning about with a single jump, to recom- 
mence its scrutiny. In this manner, the Barred Owl may be followed to 
a considerable distance, if not shot at, for to halloo after it does not seem 
to frighten it much. But if shot at and inissed, it moves to a considerable 
distance, after which its whah-whah-whah is uttered with considerable pom- 
posity. This Owl will answer the imitation of its own sounds, and is fre 
quently decoyed by this means. 
The flight of these Owls is smooth, light, noiseless, and capable of being 
greatly protracted. Once, whilst descending the Ohio, not far from the 
well-known Cave-in-roclc , about two hours before sunset, in the month of 
November, I saw a Barred Owl teased by several Crows, and chased from 
the tree in which it was. On leaving the tree, it gradually rose in the air, 
in the manner of a Hawk, and at length attained so great a height that our 
party lost sight of it. It acted, I thought, as if it had lost itself, now and 
then describing small circles, and flapping its wings quickly, then flying in 
Vol. I. 20 
