282 
STRIX NEBULOSA. 
day ; and, at the approach of night, their cries are heard 
proceeding from every part of the forest around the 
plantations. Should the weather he lowering, and 
indicative of the approach of rain, their cries are so 
multiplied during the day, and especially in the evening, 
and they respond to 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 gesticulations 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 
surrounded by a broad ruff, looks towards him as if 
half blind, and moves its head to and fro in so extra- 
ordinary 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 hack 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, noise- 
less, 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 , 
