420 
THE SAVAGE WORLD. 
The Eared Owl (. Ephialtes scops ) is only about seven inches in length. It 
is quite common in Italy, but is migratory in its habits, passing its winters in 
Africa and Asia, and its summers in Europe. 
The Great Owl, or Eagle Owl ( Bubo maximus) , has northern Europe for 
its habitat. It is extremely fierce, attacking the eagle and the wild dog without 
considering their formidableness, for which temerity it often forfeits its life. It 
is very beautiful in its plumage, is susceptible of domestication, and is trained 
to lure the pugnacious falcon into the hunter’s net. 
The Virginian Eared Owl, or Horned Owl {Bubo virginianus) , utters a 
cry so weird as to curdle the blood of the traveller. It is very destructive of 
__ __ game birds and displays great fond- 
' ' ness for wild turkeys. Like the scops 
eared owl and the great owl , it be¬ 
longs to the horned family, wearing 
movable, feathered tufts or ears. 
The Brown Owl {Syrnium aluco), 
though small, is very bold and strong, 
and surpasses most species in its fond¬ 
ness for the flesh of young cats. The 
brown owl is perhaps better known as 
the barn owl. 
The Long-eared Owl {Asio amer- 
icanis ) is small but rapacious and is 
found in many countries. It takes 
the nest of a squirrel or of a bird, 
and thus saves the trouble of 
building for itself. It is very fond of 
its young, and provides for them most 
bountifully. It is very common in 
America and alike varied and beautiful 
in its coloring. Despite its racial weak¬ 
ness for cat-flesh, a tame long-eared 
owl has been known to live on the 
most affectionate terms with pussy, 
who always shared with him her rats 
and mice. The Veiled Owl, or Ameri¬ 
can Barn Owl {Strix flammed), is 
light colored and very easily tamed. One of them struck up a friendship for a 
linnet and used to allow the little bird to ride about seated on its back. 
The owl’s nocturnal habits and melancholy utterances have resulted in 
multiplying omens and superstitions associated with him. The French peasants 
are in the habit of nailing owls to trees or fences and letting them die by the 
slow torture of hunger. Henry Berthoud, in his “ Stories of Bird Life,” tells 
of rescuing one such unfortunate owl and taking it into his household, at Paris. 
The owl became quite fond of its master and always returned after having 
been allowed its liberty. Finally it disappeared but was some days afterwards 
found to have a family, which, together with the male, accepted into their friend¬ 
ship the owner of the mother. If, as sometimes happens, the owl gets abroad 
in daytime, crows, sparrows, and various small birds, which at night would 
forest owe (Syrnium aluco). screech owe (Olus 
vulgaris). 
