The Indianapolis journal., 1894-04-30
THINGS ABOUT OWLS
THEY ARE CRAFTY BIRDS THE WIS
EST OF THE FEATHERED TRIBE.
Shrewder Than the Ground Hog and
Many Display characteristics That
Are Distinctly Human.

understands when to whit and when to
'whoo." 1t has a world of its own. Mid
night is its dinner hour and daybreak it's
bedtime. There is a sort of diablerie of
thought about the bird-an uncanny look
in its round, staring eyes that suggests
goblins and graveyards and wtchcraft.
This is simply the palpabe wisdom stick
ing out where everybody can see it. This
is why the big owl sits on top of the
Herald building. 1t personifes a lot of
things that people throughout the world
have become well acquainted with-wis-
dom, prudence and the power to punish.
Those who talk of the prescience of the
blue bird and robin and grounding in the
matter of spring predictions know not
whereof they speak. In the language of
the turf the groundhog is not ''one-two-
three in the race for spring wisdom with
the owl. On the first bright day in spring
you may hear the dislocatA staccato notes
of some redbreast actively gathering twigs
for prospective honeymoon. If at the
same time you fail to hear the lovemaking
night whoop of the owl you may make up
your mind that the robins nest will be
full of snow in few days.
On some occasions the wise old owl will
rent the top fiat in some hollow tree as
early as the middle of February with the
snow lying foot deep over everything.
When this occurs you may rest assured
that spring weather will set in early. and
that by the time the trees are green the
abstruse problem of owl multiplication will
have been we'll under way.
owls are the favorite birds of the tax
idermists, we'll as of Minerva They
are ignobly and necessarily filled with saw
dust by every disciple of stuffology in the
land. They are furnished with abnormal
yellow eyes and are placed in unnatural at
titudes to glare at passers by. 1t would be
wise owl that could recognize its own
eftgy in the window of the average bird
stuffer.
According to those who ought to know
this is a great owl country. There are big
owls, little owls. horned owls and hornless
Owls, Owls that whoop and owls that whis-
te, ana, In short every kind of owl that
Away up in Maine among the snow bur-
dened cedars lives the hawk owl He is a
slim brownish black little chap, full of
confidence and claws His speciality is
ptarmfgan and grouse, and there are but
figure in his menu Although he is the
dude of his tribe he can fight like pugi-
white and his facial disks are of mottled
gray he keeps up the reputation of the
FAMILY iGrs for S1is wisdom Sometimes a party of
serve his owlship flying along at a safe
distance In the rear, waiting for the escape
as well as night, and will hover around
camp fires for hours. Many is the bonne
pouche 1t purloins from the camp larder.
11tEAI SNOW1 OWL.
Another resident of the extreme north is
| the great snowy owl. You have seen them
| in taxidermists' windows, sitting white and
| solemn on a dead branch, with staring yell
| low eyes. gray notified back and feather
| hidden claws. This owl is only a winter
| visitor to the United States, but sometimes
during an especially cold snap it is seen as
| far south as Georgia. 1t hunts by day as
well as night. 1t probably acquired this
| habit from necessity, as the polar day is
six months long. Its flight is as nciseless
as foating feather or a bit of down. II
! with the speed and force of a peresrine
ia,con, and many is the duck and grouse il
1akes "a ESQ on II the wing II is said to be especial
manner Of fish hawk. There is probably
| no blrd In the northern regions so heartily
| When IL sees IT, and a trap is its especial
OBJECT OF regard. 1t watches the traps set
tSSusnt thereln; III not too large and fierce
the snowy owl will stow it away in short
oreer It fo regards fs trap as an invention
| The little night owl is a denizen of Nova
| tI SGoCia ana Labrador 1t differs from the
hight mgr owl or the Bowery and the Tender
| ION In the fact that it is not so tough.
| It is sometimes eaten by the Esouimaf1x
IL Is rlnged with chocolate brown bands.
| white spots. A band of white across the
| throat givessit the appearance of wearing
a linen collar 1t looks almost clerical as
it sits upright on limb. but it is a de-
| ceiving little creature and its righteous
| aspect Is snare. 1t is a murderer of field
| mice. and the death of many a hare can
| be laid at its door. Catch it in your hand
| and it becomes a feathered buzz saw Its
peak pops Ike a nut cracker. its claws
| grab hold OF anything that comes their
| way, ana 1t develops into picture of out
| ragged dignity.
The Columbian OWL which is denizen
| of the great forests of British Columbia,
| is serene, comfortable and aldermanic
| little chap that lives high on those heavy
humming night beetles and moths that
| haunt the coDses in the summer time 1t
| is more timid than any of it's kind and
| less disposed to crack it's beak and make
| bluffs This may be due to an excess of
| wisdom. 1t IS a remarkably handsome
| bird It's head is dotted with yellowish-
| white spots, it's back is olive brown and it's
| tail is barred with rows of transverse white
| markings. Its facial discs are brown, and
| 1t has pale reddish spots on the wings.
HE KEEPS QUEER COMPANY
/ Everybody has heard of the burrowing
owl, the side partner of the prairie dog
and rattlesnake. Throughout the West it
is called the prairie owl. Apparently it has
less to brag about in the way of wisdom
than any of its kind. No bird can be right
mentally that will take up it's residence
with and make a confidential friend of a
rattlesnake.s Even its animated bill of fare,
| the prairie dog marVels at it, On ap-
| of these owls blinking on top of the bur-
| rows. 1t has long feet and light yellowish-
| brown plummage, spotted with white. It's
tail is barred with white, and it's face,
throat and ruff a light gray. 1t is not
thing of beauty, because it looks like
a sort OF albino, or a feathered mistake.
| on being approached it utters a low chat
tering sound, not unlike that or prairie
| dog starts and Skins swiftly over the
plain toward a certain burrow from which
il has ousted the lawful occupants Down
it goes into the depths, and you could not
get it out with a burglars jimmy. 1t is
said to feed field mice and crickets,
but there is a suspicion in the minds Of
| old frontiersmen that a timely autopsy
would disclose the presence OF young and
tender prairie dog.
In the latter days of August 1t suddenly
disappears. Nobody has ever been able &c
find out where it goes. The Indians, who
| are close observers, aver that IL spends the
| winter in torpor.
Those who have Travelled through the
woody hills of Massachusetts are familiar
with the Acadian owl. Familiarity known as
| the 'sawwhet" It's love notes bear a
| startling res mblance to the filing of q
large saw. 1t is a soft, f1uffy-looking OBJ
ject and how IL manages to make such
| harsh notes is a wonder. Many a man
| while travelling along a country road listen
| ing 10 the lovemakng OF these birds has
| fancied himself in the vicinity or a sawmill
| Another popularity Of the "Saw-whet' Is
! the snoring notes of its young. The little
/ downy chaps sit in their nest and snore
| Ii may be that they are only endeavorine
TO give expression TO their hunger. Wher
calling 10 each other the voice OF the saw
whet'' is almost exactly like bell.
| Do not ever attempt TO locate one OF
those bell-lil<e notes. You may search fol
/ k-.fx. al ffr,I