The Long-eared Owl 
Taken in Washington 
to hear what Maria will 
say. I paused and can¬ 
vassed the morale of my 
contemplated action; 
then hastily reviewed 
the chances of wild-cats; 
and then reached for my 
gun. Not until I had 
actually seen the mother 
bird, for it was she, emit¬ 
ting one of those grue¬ 
some squalls, could I 
believe that the noise 
came from an Owl. 
Even after doubt was at 
rest, the cry seemed not 
less like the snarl of an 
angry feline. To add to 
the terrors of the defen¬ 
sive, the husband and 
father came up and liter¬ 
ally proceeded to spread 
himself. Wings and tail 
were spread to the ut¬ 
most, and every feather 
was ruffled to the fullest 
extent,—all in a manner 
calculated to strike ter¬ 
ror to the boldest heart. 
The bird-man managed 
to control his nerves long 
enough to note five eggs 
—but of what color de¬ 
ponent saith not—then 
hurriedly sought more 
congenial company. 
The notes of the Long-eared Owl are a fascinating study. The 
call note, oftenest visualized as the conventional “hoot,” is scarcely 
that, but is something softer, tenderer, and more subdued. After the 
courting season, the male employs this sound to comfort his mate upon the 
nest. Once we camped at the foot of a cottonwood tree which contained 
a nest of this bird, and as often as we waked in the still watches, we heard 
A NESTING SITE 
MAMA LONGEARS IS ON DECK 
Photo by the Author 
