Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-12
THE HOME OF AN OWL
A NATURE STUDY AND ITS RE
SUITS.
Takes Much Persistence and Some
Courage for the
Lesson.

One afternoon last winter, after long
stretch Of very cold, snowy weather, the
storm clouds parted and the sun shone out
bright and warm. And as 1t shone 1t
lighted up the top of a dark pine tree which
stretched upward out of a gloomy wood,
and it warmed the south side of large
nest of leaves and twigs which rested IN
the upper branches. And a big gray squir-
rel, who had been curled UP asleep inside
for many days, felt the grateful warmth
and arose. stretching and yawning, to take
a look from the doorway, round hole in
the wall of the nest Then he ran out upon
branch to the tip of it, leaped ten clear
feet to the outstretched limb Of another
tree. and after clrcling the trunk few
times to get his legs in working order, he
lay down along horizontal branch, with
one fore and one hind leg hanging down on
either side, and took a sun bath. By and
by he jumped to another tree, and thence
to the ground to hunt for nut, which he
seemed to remember having hidden some
where nearby. And he found it, too, under
the snow, close to the base of a rock, and
when he had eaten it he raced through the
tree tops for a time before hunting for an
other one. And SO he spent that bright
winter afternoon, playing and feed ng until
the sun was far over in the west Within
the wood it was already growing dark when
he started for his home and his bed in the
top of the old pine tree. He had not far to
go-some twenty-five feet, perha ps-and he
was bounding along over the snow, when
dark shadow fell across his path. For one
instant he heard the fluff fluff Of mighty
wings and had one glimpse of a pair of
fierce yellow eyes, and then came a mo-
ment's terrible pain. before his life was
crushed out by the talons of great horned
OWL
Wanted a Witness.
The savage bird looked up from his VIC
tim, and, turning his head, looked sharply
on all sides of him though to see if any
one had witnessed the deed. Then he
looked down again, apparently satisfied
that he was unobserved. Holding the limp
squirrel with his feet, he bent over, and,
half shutting his eyes, began lingering the
body with his bill. Presently he found the
place he was feeling for, and there was
distinct crack" as he broke the backbone
with single bite. Again and yet again
came that ominouS cracking sound, and
then the owl began to devour his prey
piecemeal. But first of all he pulled out
few tufts of thick gray fur in order to
get at the skin, and then he literally tore
the animal in pieces, which he jerked back
ward into his throat and swallowed with
much gaping and gulping When he had
finished his meal, nothing but the hind
quarters remained, and these he picked
up in his bill and flew off with. The first
Convenient ldHulnS place happened to be
the now deserted rest of his victim, and
here he alighted and tucked the remains
OF his supper firmly between the Rest and
one OF the branches which supported It,
He Began to Preen.
The following afternoon, as the horned
owl was roosting in large dark evergreen
tree. he slowly opened his mouth and
very solemnly elected a solid pellet
about two inches long, containing
the bones and fur which he had
swallowed with his meal the night
before. Then he began to preen his
plumage, drawing his tail and wing feath-
ers through his bill. slowly and precisely.
Next he turned his attention to his feet,
and went over each toe separately biting
hard at the big, hooked claws, to make
sure that all were smooth and in good con-
dition. After that he lifted one foot after
the other. opening and closing the talons
two or three times, and then, as If salts
fed that everything was in order, away he
new on powerful silent wings He alighted
oFce more on the deserted squirrels nest,
and after looking about him with his usual
caution. dragged out the remains of his
last nights victim, and soon there was
nothing left but the bushy tail, which was
caught by puff of wind and blown to the
glound- After that, the owl seemed to de-
Velop liking for that particular nest, and
many were the squirrels, mice and small
birds brought there to be devoured And
Tic Top Oh Inc nest became ndttened. and
owl pellets accumulated on and around it.
Sometimes another great horned owl ap-
peared, and toward the latter part of Feb
ruary the two were often seen together.
They Saw Him First.
Early in March the old SQUIRRELS nest
had been converted into birds nest. and
in 1t We're three large white eggs, from
which in due time issued three large-head-
ed, downy young horned owls, for whom
their parents were obliged to do even more
killing than usual
One day the nest was discovered by a
bird student whose name we won't mention.
and he, on study bent, went boldly up the
tree. He had not gone far, however, when
his cap was torn from his head by one CT
the angry parent BIRDS and as there seemed
every prospect of hostilities being renewed
he came slthering down again. He pro-
cured fencing mask, and, with his face
thus protected made another attempt and
after being savagely attacked, succeeded
In reaching the nest. There lay the top
heavy young owls, comically serious young
sters, blinking disdainfully at the bird stu
dent, who examined them quickly but care
fully, and left them to their fond parents
in order to avoid any further unpleasa Mt
ness.
Well guarded and well fed, the young owls
grew large and strong. They soon changed
their plumage Of down for one of feathers.
and were out earning a living with their
own good talons, at a season when most OF
our birds have scarcely begun to think of
nest-building.
ERNEST HAROLD BAYNES.