/Lm 
L ' ,: ' 3 
Vv-w 
Roth the Horned and the Barred Owls hunt m the day as well 
as m the nif?ht. I have shot a Horned Owl m the forenoon with 
a Partridge in his claws. I have also shot one at three oAclock 
m o...e afternoon, with a full-grown rabbit in his claws . I have 
known a Barred Owl to have a Mink m the middle of the day and ^ 
once one dived at my head long before dark. Manly Hardy, 
Latter of Nov. 7,1889. 
tpnixi £uuB9ddi3 ‘9.o'mu puoA9q }d9q 9 if }tiq ‘9fiiui 9q4 uii34qo 04 uiua u; 
P9I.14 l *9[T31U9J 13 9q 04 UOI499SSip UO p9AO.ld 41 pUB *4S9U 9q4 UIG.IJ 9SO.UT 
41 su p.nq 9 q 4 4 cqs j ‘U9im99ds 13 p94ui3M j sy -pibq U99q pi3q s°Sa 9.ioui 
0M4 413144 puy 04 .194114 S/Ccp U9A9S p9ii.m49.i 4nq '4f 9>fii4 119144 4011 pip I -o.o9 
9110 /[uo p9Uii34U09 4S9U 9if4 sy -puno-iS 9q4 ino.ij 149139.1 uiq 4 iAV 4SOU.1413 pun 
‘99.14 u.ioq 4 n jo q.ioj 413.141199 9q4 uodn oqi.iqg sii {4 jo 4^911 9q4 p9.i9Aoosip 1 61 
uQ t *qny 9ifX? U I 99i qd n 4 un.i.iBA\ 04 s 4 siSofoq 4 iu.io 04 qJ? noii9 4S9.194UI 
j° gq ||ia\. 4 sn.i 4 j qoiqAv ‘Sui.ids 4Si3[ uoi4i3A.i9sqo Aui .i9pun 9uii39 snuvpia 
-opni sniuv r p jo uonnoyipiu 9 i {4 ui (9111 04) 4 U 9 ppui jnnsnun un ‘.i 9 A 9 a\oh 
• p.ioo 9 a 04 s.i 9 A.i 9 sqo .i9i|40 .ioj syqi.iifS 9q4 jo X.104S114 9if4 ui 4j9f si 914 X 1 ^- l9A 
413144 4 ( 8 ^ 8 i ‘I opnaofOQ 9 q 4 jo sp.ug;) ,9.111413 j^[ jo 94134s u ui 
S9qi.iqs? jo 4 unoo 9 n siq ui 33piiun r q 9if4 jo S4iqi3q 9if4 X‘f94nuiui os p9qi.i9S9p 
snq sgno^ 401443 mq — •( snuvpmopnj sntuv'j ) squqs p^sqjaSSoq 9 XX 
•2 uppiuvjfti ‘Noxas 'X *3 AS3.MH3 *ain9snj/\T 
9i[4 ui p94 isodop 4 S 9 U 9 if 4 pun ‘pgauyuoo snM uoi4i39yi4U9pui 9 q 4 i U014 
-11414SUJ umuosif4iius 9 M4 04 ‘spjqq 4 U 9 .md 9144 q 44 M ‘ 4 U 9 S si?av 4 S 9 U siqx 
•pus agau] oqj in Suu n uuoj 04 poutpui ‘jptqq pun ‘UMO-iq ‘ajcl 
-j n d-or [ t [ jo sjods M. 3 J n qj i m ‘ojiqAV Xaiuo-io ojeoipp v. jo 9-ioM Xsqi uAvo|q 
playful air, when she seemingly enjoys putting herself into grotesque atti- 
tudes, varied with hooting, and another sound which so closely 
resembles the creaking of the door-hinge of her apartment that I am 
inclined to believe she has imitated it. Once, while in such a mood, I 
introduced a full grown cock into the room, when lo ! the whole demeanor 
of my pet changed instanter. The horns were thrown back flat against 
the crown, the eyes glared fiercely, and the stately bird of wisdom, and 
the humorous vendor of quaint sounds, gave place to the savage bird of 
prey. As she stood for a moment glaring down upon her victim, moving 
her head from side to side, as if calculating the distance and the best 
method of attack, she looked like a veritable fiend. Her first swoop was 
dodged by the cock, and she then made an attack on the ground. Ap- 
proaching the now terrified bully of the barn-yard, quick as a flash one 
claw was thrust out, clutching his neck; throwing him over on his back 
she quietly held him there until all motion had ceased, which was much 
sooner than if his head had been chopped off. 
Nothing in the shape of fresh fish or flesh is neglected by the Owl 
when hungry, though her choice is for wild birds, and she will take small 
animals in preference to beef or mutton. A rat or squirrel is always 
swallowed whole, and about every second or third day the fur and bones 
are ejected, rolled into a hard pellet as large as a Grouse’s egg. Just before 
ejecting these pellets the bird’s appearance is very distressing. The first 
time I observed it I thought she must be ill, but as soon as the pellet is 
out she immediately recovers. If any food remains after her hunger is 
satisfied, it is carefully hidden away, and if I approach the spot where it 
has been laid the Owl attacks me most fiercely ; flying at my feet, and hit- 
ting at them with her wings and claws. 
She is very fond of bathing, and during the warm weather will bathe reg- 
ularly once a day ; getting into the large basin I have provided and wash- 
ing very much after the manner of a Canary. In winter she takes a 
bath about every three or four days. 
I have proven that her hearing is remarkably acute, and that she can 
see distinctly in the day time, when out of the glare of the sun. 
The ‘hoot’ is made with the bill firmly closed ; the air is forced into the 
mouth and upper part of the throat, the latter being puffed out to the size 
of a large orange. — James W. Banks, St. John, N. B. 
Auk, I, April, 1884. p. . 
