The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-08-26

- With not a star obsoureG,
But purified and hallowed ..,,a1
10 all il hath endured J -
! 1tt. For the Jeffersonian Democrat.
Birds on the Farm,
That are more o. less Resident alt he Year,
o and their Iajfueace upon agriculture.
es STRIGIDAE; Opis. .u-,y 5
This family, once enormously supposed
10 be birds of fpa omen, but nov known to
be of essential service to tie farmer, con-
tains about l50 species. resident in different
parts of tho world. OF these about forty
only are. American, and but ten found 10
Gesugs county, aud some of them are very
rare. 81. t.....
Though the several species vary greatly
10 size and general appearance, all are. nev-
er'holess, readily recognised by their some-
what cat like face, aud other peculiari,ies.
While lew are able to some extent to
pursue their game by day, If the weather be
dull and cloudy, and some take the morning
and evening twilight for that purpose, the
great majority are strictly nocturnal in their
habits, pursuing their prey only at night,
and passing the day, usually concealed iu
hollow trees, or thickets, and, Ia the case Of
two species, in holes in the ground. H
Those found in the County, are Acadiau,
or Saw Whet" Owl, Screech Owl, Long.
Eared, Short. .Eared, Great Horned, Barred,
Great Gray, Snowy. and Hawk Owl, and, in
oil probability. the Barn Owl, as it is com.
mon in Pennsy Ivania and southwards.
The AcApIAN Owl
is very rare bird, and the smallest species
found in the County, measuring only about
7 inches iu length. THIS handsome owl has
q very voracious appetite, aud foeds on MICE
molcs, crickets. iocusts. grass. .hoppers, bee.
| Ties, etc.. Of which it consumes hundreds
daily. Being strictly nocturnal, It takes its
prey only at night. and remains concealed
away in holes in trees during the day. II
lays five or six pure white, small, round
eggs. usually in the deserted nest of wood.
pecker. These are generally hstched out
in the mouth of April. Not being q shy
bird, it frequently visits our houses and
barns in search of game, and as it can do no
sort of harm, it will be of value in diminish.
ing tho number of insects and mice about
the homestead. ..' '.. !"
THE SCREEcH Owl, t-..
which is next in size, beirg about ten inches
in length, is also q permanent resident, and
a very beautiful bird. In habits it is similar
to the preceding, but is far more familiar.
1t not only makes visits to our barns, but,
when unmoles,ed, frequently remains for
days and. especially in the winter season,
for weeks together; because it there q fnds
protection from the cold and supply of
appropriate food, which consists of young
rats and mice. 10 the winter season, and OF
these. together with various kinds of insects,
during warm weather. 1t 10 believed that
this little bird would eventually make the
barn permanent residence. if il were gen.
orally protected and appropriate nesting
boxes prepared for it. AS it can do no harm
y
chicken-its acquisition as household bird
10 very much to DO desired. ...
This bird lays four or five eggs, usually in
holes 10 trees. These are round, similar to
the preceding. but larger, aud are hatchod
out about the middle OF April. Each pair
Of birds, with their young, will destroy on
an average from l50 to 200 mice per month,
in addition to tho insects eaten.
THE LONG EARED AND THE SHORT EARED
Owl -
are next in sizo, measuring in length each
about fifteen inches. They differ somewhat
in their habits; the former prefering the
woods, the latter tho open grounds along
the margiu of swamps, rivers, etc., as places
of resort. Both, however, are permanent
residents, and make war at all seasons of
the year upon rats, mice and squirrels, des-
troying them by thousands annually, and
eat more or less of the insect class, such as
beetles, locusts, grasshoppers, etc. They
are strictly nocturnal, and take their prey
only at night, frequently passing the day
concealed in hollow trees where they have
made their nests. They lay usually three
or four large, white, round eggs, that are
ha'cbed early in April. The Short -Eared
Owl is the more common eff the two, but
neither is as abundant as would be for tho
interests of the farmer. taa.., ...
The HAWK Owl,
which measures in length about seventeen
inches, is very abundant in British America,
but here only o rare winter visitor---found
thus far south only when the severity of
northern winter has cut short its usual sup
ply Of food, which consists of rats, rabbits,