THE SCREECH OWL. 
187 
with the body placed lengthwise along the border 
of the hole, the head also laid down, but turned tow- 
ard the water. One might have supposed the bird 
sound asleep, as it would remain in the same posi- 
tion until a good opportunity of securing a fish oc- 
curred, which, I believe, was never missed ; for, as 
the latter unwittingly rose to the surface, near the 
edge, that instant the Owl thrust out the foot next 
the water, and, with the quickness of lightning, 
seized it, and drew it out. The Owl then removed 
to the distance of a few yards, devoured its prey, 
and returned to the same hole ; or, if it had not 
perceived any more fish, flew only a few yards over 
the many ‘pots’ there, marked one, and alighted at 
a little distance from it. It then squatted, moved 
slowly toward the edge, and lay as before, waiting 
for an opportunity.” 
The Night Owls, with which we are most familiar, 
are the Great Horned, the Long-eared, the Short- 
eared, and the Little Screech Owls. The latter is 
the most abundant species, and there is scarcely any 
section of the 'Eastern and Middle States where it is 
not found. Its melancholy notes are heard around 
the doors of our farm-houses, as it sits perched upon 
a neighboring tree. Its song, if song it may be 
called, resembles somewhat the syllables, “ Who-o-o- 
o-o-oo-oo \” uttered through the nose tremulously, 
and sometimes conveys the impression that they pro- 
ceed from a child in distress. These notes are most 
frequently heard during the latter part of Winter • 
and this being the mating season, the male bird is 
