Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1861-02-07
The Barn Owl-the Farmers Friend,

This bird may be regarded as tho typical
example Of the Owl family. 1t exhibits 10
perfection many pocuIiartiss Of their form
and structure, such as the thick plumagc,
the large eye, with the discs surrounding it,
and the ioathered legs 1t is distributed
over a wide extent Of country, throughout
the sca.board districts. Its northern limit
appears to be near the 44th parallel of lati.
tude; thence it is found along the coasts Of
both Oceans, as far south as Brazil. This
species Is not common in New England, or
tie Western States, but south Of Pennsyya-
MA, Is the most abundant Of the family
There is an owi, widely distributed over the
Eastern Continent abundant in England,
France Germany, Russia, aud the Scandina
Wan Peninsula, known b. the same name,
winch some Aatufaists have, with hesitation,
treated as different species, but in shape
and habits il appears to be identical with
9ur own. 10 color and size they do not DIFF
l,r more than other species upon different
sides Of The Atlantic, Hhica are admitted to
he iIcn.icaI-ao. SO much, indeed as the
Barn 0vi Of Casa does from that OF Cali
iouia For our purposes, tho European
and American Barn Owl may 1e ;reatei as
garielic. only Of single species. although
slight srecUc differences probably do exist
between .hm
The total ingth of the female is about
sixteen ilehos; the male, as Is usually the
case with predatory birds, is som, what less
1t is without ear tufta; its legs are .ung and
teathercd to the toes. Specimens from dii-
ferent paris Of North Am.rca exhibit differ.
ont shades Of color, especially in the undcr
parts la tie common type, these are a
pale iaNn % buff color, uttrsporsel with
SINAI. spots Of black. The upper part, have
pouadwor, OF tawny yellow, bit nearly
every feather has a small black spot near the
end, succeeded by another spot which is
white The facial discs, or rings Of feathers
surrounding the eyes are nearly white,
1t is probable That the Bara Owl is the
most efficient cxtermiaator known, Of the
smaller animals, such as mice moles ground
squirrels, etc, which are SO annoying that
they are cIasscl under the common name Of
CermiH.
1t is nocturnal in its habits, being rarely
seen before the evening twilight During
the day ii is so imDeclo as to permit itself
to be insulted at vii, by the punle,t agrees
sor and if disturbed, it fles 10 al irregular,
stumbling manner, as il bewildcred by the
light. 1t is rarely found in the roccsses Of
the woods but seems rather to prefer the Vi
clity Of human habitations and farm yards,
or fields grown up to small brush, dccayed
hollow trees, and above all, deserted build
ings. In such localities it is rtain OF an
abundance Of its iayorte food In some
obscure nook, or recess itrcm4ins from sun
rise to sunset, in nearly an erect posture,
with rctracted neck, and closed eyelids, DO
zinI away the hours in which, from the
structure Of its eyes, it is unable to APP
proach its prey, awaiting the return Of twl-
light. Il approached in This state, 1t does
not fly off, but Kisses like an angry cat and
clicks its bill at the intruder II forced to
leave its position, it seeks the nearest place
Of shelter from its enemies. In the evening
dusk, however, i, assumes far different APP
ncarance. II then starts from It's recess Ion
some field or farm yard where the mice OF
smaller animals are plenty, and with noise
less firm and protracted flight explores the
ground with tie regularity oil highly train.
ed pointer, sa ling along the fences, over the
valleys, watching every movement Of a grass
blade, and catching with sensitive ear every
sound that issues from behind it, All It's
feathers terminate in fine downy margins,
exposing no rough surfaces to the air, so that
It's flight is as noisclcss as shadow. 1t,
vision is so acute aud its motions so active
that the animal Of which it is in search
rarely escapes if once exposed to view.
1t is able, by process Of regurgtatlon, t(
eject from its stomach all the iudigestibl,
portions of its food, such as fur, bones AM
feathers. These are thrown out in the form
of rounded pei cts, which are always found
in abundance near its nest and gives to it.
vicinity an odor pleasan, enough, perhaps
to the owl, but far otherwise to the observer
The quantity Of food which it consumes i:
most extraordinary Mr.. Waterloo, an en-
inent British ornithoogist, whose opportuu
ties for observing its habits in this respect
were excellent, as he several times donest
catedit, says, that when it has young i
will bring u mouse or similar animal to it,
nes, as often as once in twelve minutes
But in order to have proper idea of To,
quantity OF mice it destroys, it is necessary
tocxamno the pellets which it elects iron
its stomach in the place of its retreat. -
Every pellet which MIR Watcron examined
he touud to contain from lour to seven skele
tons oil mice. In one instance, where i
nested in AN old gateway, he caused the vi
cinly Of the nest &c be thoroughly cleansed
and upon an examination some moalhs after
when the young we're fully grown, he loun
the place TO contain aJoue a JaShei of Mes