Asio accipitrinus. 
.2 
1895. Maine 
Sept.22. Lake Umbagog, turning downward shot back to the marsh again. 
This evolution was strikingly like that performed so often by 
the Nighthawk when skimming low over the fields after the light 
has faded and I believe that it had the same objecti, namely the 
capture of some flying insect, perhaps in this case one of the 
big Dyti.scus beetles. The darkness was gathering fast and it 
was hard to follow the Owl with the eye.- Indeed I had quite lost 
sight of him for a minute or more when it occurred to me to try 
squeaking like a mouse. I had just squeaked the second time when 
the Owl Shot out of the gloom coming straight towards me about 
on a level with my head as I sat in the boat. He came within 
less than 12 feet then turning abruptly with three or four hurri*-* 
ed flaps, skimmed off into the darkness. Presently I squeaked 
again when he again came straight for me this time so near 
(certainly within six or eight feet) that I was positively a 
lit ole apprehensive that he might strike my face-.-. We did not see 
him again but after we had returned to camp a Heron on the marsh— 
, es twice made such a loud and prolonged clamor that we suspected 
the Owl was at his old sport-,- 
