60 
BARRED OWL. 
thick foliage. The nest was rudely put together, composed 
outwardly of sticks, intermixed with some dry grass and 
leaves, and lined with smaller twigs. At another time, in 
passing through the woods, I perceived something white, on 
the high shaded branch of a tree, close to the trunk, that, as 
I have observed that the approach of the gray squirrel intimidated them, if one 
of these animals accidentally jumped on a branch close to them, although the 
Owl destroys a number of them during the twilight.” 
Audubon has heard it said, in addition to small animals and birds, and a 
peculiar sort of frog, common in the woods of Louisiana, that the Barred Owl 
catches fish. He never saw this performed, though it may be as natural for it as 
those species which have been ascertained to feed on them. It is often exposed 
for sale in the New Orleans market, and the Creoles make gumbo of it, and 
pronounce it palatable. 
In this place may be introduced another species, mentioned by Bonaparte 
as inhabiting Arctic America, and met with by Dr Richardson during the 
last northern expedition. It is the largest of the American Owls, exceeding 
even the size of the Virginian Horned Owl, and seems to have been first 
noticed and described by Dr Latham, from Hudson’s Bay specimens. Dr 
Richardson has more lately given the following sketch of its manners : — 
“ It is by no means a rare bird in the Fur Countries, being an inhabitant 
of all the woody districts lying between Lake Superior and latitudes 67° 
or 68°, and between Hudson’s Bay and the Pacific. It is common on the 
borders of Great Bear Lake ; and there and in the higher parallels of lati- 
tude it must pursue its prey, during the summer months, by daylight. It 
keeps, however, within the woods, and does not frequent the barren grounds, 
like the Snowy Owl, nor is it so often met with in broad daylight as the 
Hawk Owl, but hunts principally when the sun is low ; indeed, it is only at 
such times, when the recesses of the woods are deeply shadowed, that the 
American hare and the marine animals, on which this Owl chiefly preys, come 
forth to feed. On the 23d of May, I discovered a nest of this Owl, built, on 
the top of a lofty balsam poplar, of sticks, and lined with feathers. It con- 
tained three young, which were covered with a whitish down. We could get 
at the nest only by felling the tree, which was remarkably thick ; and whilst 
this operation was going on, the two parent birds flew in circles round the 
objects of their care, keeping, however, so high in the air as to be out of 
gunshot : they did not appear to be dazzled by the light. The young ones 
were kept alive for two months, when they made their escape. They had the 
habit common also to other Owls, of throwing themselves back, and making a 
loud snapping noise with their bills, when any one entered the room in which 
they were kept.” — Ed. 
