412 
OWL. 
in this ridiculous dress he skims along the surface 
of the ground, and alights on the plain, while the- 
kite advances to observe his odd appearance, and 
generally hovers about unguarded, till he is either 
surprised by the falconer, or caught by a strong- 
winged hawk provided for the purpose. This owl 
differs from the rest of the species, in being better 
able to support the light of day ; for he leaves his 
haunts earlier in the evening, and returns later in 
the morning. 
The whole of the owl tribe make a hideous noise, 
which is seldom heard while pursuing their prey, 
but has been considered rather as a call to courtship. 
However this may be, there is always something 
terrifying in this call, which is often heard in the 
silence of midnight, and breaks the general pause 
with a horrid variation. It differs in all, but in 
each it is alarming and disagreeable. Father Kir- 
cher, who has set the voices of birds to music, has 
given all the tones of the owl note, which makes a 
most tremendous melody. The light, which gives 
life and spirit to other birds, is by these most care- 
fully avoided. They never permit it to be a spec- 
tator of their actions; and while the sun continues 
above the horizon, they conceal themselves in the 
deepest and most gloomy recesses, where they wait 
the return of night, that they may steal out of their 
prisons and pursue their prey. When this pursuit 
is successful, they soon return to their haunts; but 
it sometimes happens, when they find but little 
game, that their appetite gets the better of their 
