MOTTLED OWL. 
273 
to assail any living Mottled Owl that is brought into the room, evidently looking upon 
it as an invader. 
The sounds, given by my Owl, which I have mentioned, are only uttered when he is 
frightened or irritated; now I will describe some other notes which he produces when in 
far more agreeable moods. Like all Owls, he has a call which consists of a series of rather 
low notes, uttered rapidly and quite melodiously. This is given as an answer when he is 
called, when he alights on my hand, or when approached so suddenly as to be slightly 
startled; then, after a quick glance informs him that it is a friend who is near, he gives the 
sound quite low as a sign of reassurance or recognition. This same sound is made quite 
loud as a challenge to some other Owl or as a preliminary to an attack. It is also, when 
given very clearly, the love song to the mate but is then followed by a kind of squeal, 
emitted with the wings partly expanded. But this brings me to w T hat we may consider the 
acme of Scopsie’s vocal performances,—what I look upon as the true song. This is always 
given when h£ is in his box which is quite dark, having only small orifices which serve as 
windows, and an open door. The bird is seldom confined but usually prefers to sit in his 
house or on top of it. At one time, he would scarcely enter his abode without singing. 
The performance would commence with a series of singular, chucking notes, given quite 
slowly, then becoming more rapid; when suddenly the time would change, then the pitch 
would be raised or lowered, or two or three notes would be thrown together,, or a series of 
lower, steadily given sounds would be followed by others which were high and uttered very 
rapidly; in short, although there was but a chucking sound, it was so varied that it be¬ 
came quite harmonious. Scopsie’s song was often continued for many minutes, especially 
if the room were quiet and strict attention were paid to him; in fact, when he was encour¬ 
aged by an imitation of the note, he would continue to sing for half an hour. Scopsie is 
the only Owl that I ever heard give these continuous notes and even he seldom indulges 
in it now, excepting occasionally, when he first sees me in the morning, then a few chucks, 
only, are given as a greeting. Scopsie often answers when spoken to with a chuckle, often 
given so very low as to be nearly inaudible, especially if he chances to feel drowsy, besides 
this, he has a loud call consisting of a series of rapidly given notes, which is uttered when 
he is alone. Nor are these varied sounds all that Scopsie is capable of emitting; in addi¬ 
tion, he has a prolonged, whining note, when begging for food or water, and also the loud, 
shivering cry of his species, so often heard in the woods on still nights and which is so famil¬ 
iar to nearly every one. 
There appears to be very little difference in the time of breeding in Mottled Owls 
found in Florida and those in New England, as I have taken the fresh eggs from Wood¬ 
peckers’ holes in the piney woods and from palmettos in the hummocks or along their bor¬ 
ders, the first week in April, while they breed in the apple orchards and woods of the north 
about the same time. 
The food of the Mottled Owls consists.largely of insects but they also eat quantities 
of birds and mice, occasionally varying this diet by taking frogs or even fish. Nor are 
they content with this kind of food but will frequently enter pigeon coops to kill the occu¬ 
pants and, on one or two occasions, I have even known of them eating their own species. 
35 
