The American Barn Owl 
himself aloft and voice his uttermost passion to the stars. Both of these 
performances are likely to occur in perfection immediately after the Owl 
has left the cramped quarters of his diurnal retreat, and he sees the tooth¬ 
some field mice stretched out before him in unending vistas. These 
characterizations, I dare say, are partly local, and they may differ en¬ 
tirely from experiences in the East or in the Old World. I am very sure, 
for example, that the cries of birds heard in the summer of 1918 in 
northern Nevada were lighter, sharper, and clearer in quality than those 
to be heard in southern California. The Nevada birds, moreover, have 
a much more considerable repertory. 
The Barn Owl is the most strictly nocturnal of all owls; that is to say, 
it “rises” later, and “sets” earlier, usually a good half hour before sunrise. 
It occupies by day, also, the darkest of available retreats; but the birds 
are so abundant and so well distributed that they must avail themselves 
of a great variety of hiding places. Buildings are in good demand, barns, 
attics, vine-covered porches, tank-houses, towers and belfries. Niches 
and tiny grottoes in the cliffs are sure of attracting Barn Owls, no matter 
1074 
Taken in San Bernardino County 
Photo by Pierce 
WHA’ Z’ASH YOU SAY? 
EVEN BABY OWLS SOMETIMES IMBIBE TOO MUCH MOON¬ 
SHINE 
