BARRED OWL. 
59 
times, I met with more than forty of them, generally flying* 
or sitting exposed. I also once met with one of their nests, 
containing three young, in the crotch of a white oak, among 
each other in tones so strange, that one might imagine some extraordinary fete 
about to take place among them. On approaching one of them, its gesticu- 
lations 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 appearance of being sur- 
rounded 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 to 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 treacherous intentions, flies off to a 
short distance, alighting with its back to the person, and immediately turning 
about with a single jump, to recommence 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 missed, 
it removes to a considerable distance, after which, its whah-whah-whah is uttered 
with considerable pomposity. This Owl will answer the imitation of its own 
sounds, and is frequently decoyed by this means. 
“ The flight of the Barred Owl is smooth, light, noiseless, and capable of 
being greatly protracted. I have seen them take their departure from a detached 
grove in a prairie, and pursue a direct course towards the skirts of the main 
forest, distant more than two miles, in broad daylight. I have thus followed 
them with the eye until they were lost in the distance, and have reason to 
suppose that they continued their flight until they reached the woods. Once, 
whilst descending the Ohio, not far from the well known Cave-in-rock , 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 zigzag lines. This being so uncommon an occur- 
rence, I noted it down at the time. I felt anxious to see the bird return 
towards the earth, but it did not make its appearance again. So very lightly 
do they fly, that I have frequently discovered one passing over me, and only a 
few yards distant, by first seeing its shadow on the ground, during clear moon- 
light nights, when not the faintest rustling of its wings could be heard. 
“ Their power of sight during the day seems to be rather of an equivocal 
character, as I once saw one alight on the back of a cow, which it left so 
suddenly afterwards, when the cow moved, as to prove to me that it had mis- 
taken the object on which it had perched for something else. At other times. 
