The record-union., 1897-08-27


dacks, and an open warfare was car
ried on between the two fierce creatures
during the entire breeding season.
One day the male hawk carried a
plump spring chicken from the roost
of some nearby farmyard, and came
screaming towards the nest of its mate
not half a mile away from the home
Of Bubo. When directly over the lat
teI's nest the chicken was suddenly
dropped, and the hawk hade a swift
downward swoop 20 recover its prey
But Bubo had been watching the de-
scendfng fowl and with a noisy up
ward fight of his powerful wings he
made dash for the game The two
powerful birds came together in mid
air with a terrific concussion that could
be heard long distance off. The force
Of the blow made them rebound ten
feet, bur each recovered its equilibrium
in an instant and made another stimuli
tanaous dash for the prey.
Anger was flashing in their eyes by
this time, and the smoldering fire of a
long enmity threatened to break out.
Each bird was determined to carry off
the chicken in triumph. and 50 well
matched vera they that they seized the
carcass at the same time For a mo-
ment they tugged violently, their eyes
and beaks within a few inches Of each
other. The owl was tenacious and the
heavier, but the hawk was smarting
under wrongs that nerved it to desper-
alton. Suddenly, without warning it
released its hold upon the chicken, and
bounced bodily upon the back of Bulbo,
ana began to claw with beak and tall
ons at its adversary's head. The owl
Wriggled around and tried to shake
the hawk off, and finally succeeded in
twisting its body about so that it could
do some of the cldwing.- Blood and
feathers flew for a moment. and then
the two cOmbatahts separated an in
slant. They scared about in wide cir
cles, tapping their wings viciously, ap-
preaching and reoeding, and perform
ing aerial gyrations that were amusing
to watch. Then they came together
again with a clash and scream For a
full minute it was difficult 10 see which
had the better of the combat. as the
birds rolled about and twisted like a
huge BAH Of feathers; but in time the
hawk dropped to the ground like lead,
owl had nearly severed its head from
its body, but in return it had received
wounds SO. severe that it could hardly
fly to its perch.
The great horned owl, While it is the
most interesting species in the Adiron-
dacks is not by any means the only
kind encountered. There is the little
horned owl which breeds in hollow
trees, and pursues insects and moths
in the twilight 1t is extremely active
in its flight, and moves through the
fC9esit like a shadow. There is no noise
made by its wings, but it has a peculiar
habit of clicking its beak occasionally
in such a startling manner that the
camper is frightened. 1t Will swoop
down within a few inches Of ones ears
without making particle of noise, and
then suddenly give click as loud as
the snap of a shotgun hammer falling
upon q blank cap. Many campers
have been 50 frightened by this click
ing noise that they have remained
tarding half the night, ready to meet
robbers or other enemies, with cooked
guns
The quaint little screach-owl Scoops
asio) is probably the most interesting
owl in our northern woods, and its
queer cry makes the forest resound at
night. 1t is a very small bird to make
such a wild, uncanny sound 1t sell
dom measures more than thirteen
inches in length. and its wing spread
is about twenty-five inches in the
largest specimen. In general appear
ance and actions the screech-owl is a
az e
many of the savage characteristics of
its larger cousin. It's savage instincts,
however, are exhibited toward the
small mice and rats more than against
other birds, and it's presence in the
woods should be encouraged. On the
other hand. the woodmen and hunters
say it ought 10 be annihilated for its
screaming at night makes sleep in the
woods almost impossible. Even when
one is familiar with the bird and knows
whence the sounds come, it is utterly
impossible to Danish all thoughts of
ghosts, spirits, and murdered children.
Trappers have been so disturbed by
the persistent cry of the screech-OWl
that they have gotten up in the night
and gone forth to kill the disturber of
their slumbers.
The barn-owl is common in our north
ern woods, and its rapid flight is dis
tinguished at night by a faint hutter
of the wings, that makes one think of
a buzz-saw. The wings of this owl
are the longest of any in proportion to
its size. and it consequently has a
flight that SURPRISES that of Bubo. The
notified owls and the long cared owls
70 Of on hiding
themselves in the daytime in the hol-
low of trees. and coming forth at night
to search for rats, mice and small game.
Nearly all Of them screech dismally
at night. making a chorus of sounds
that is really startling. The owls have
ALWAYS been noted for their loud and
dismal cries. and even Virgil says of
them:
THE hoot-owl breeding ominous above
Her fateful house, is wearing dismal
night away
With wild vociferationS.
In captivity owls are shy and resent
full. although the smaller species will
gradually overcome this. and permit
one to stroke their feathers with the
| hand. In the case of Bubo, however,
no such familiarity is ever permitted.
Ten years after captivity it viii strike
with beak and ta1ons the hand that
NAV have befriended it a thousand
times. 1t asks no mercy and shows
none-G. f. W. in New York Even
/ ing Post.
/ BPyan's Song.
! As Bryan is whirled throu gh wheat
8 g hat f1e-ra