The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-04-21
THE HORNED OWLS NEST.

Work had been going onSall day in
the sugar bush; the sap had been gath
cred and drawn TO the boiling place,
until there remained but few scat
tering trees TO be visited near the
swamp. The boy was softly whistling
to himself, when n rabbit with easy,
graceful bounds. crossed the road but
Il few PAGES ahead of him and stopped
10y the side Of birch bush TO nibble
the tender buds. Just then a startling
sound came up from the swamp.
Why did the rabbit pause in his
dainty meal and squat in his very
tracks until his form more nearly re-
sembled footprint In the snow than
living mammal? The chattering red
squirrel dropped into the crotch Of n
tree, and ceased to cnatter, as the ON
inous ana almost supernatural "Whoo-
hoo-hoo- hooo" sounded through the
dismal swamp and echoed through the
maple grove This was the hunting
call of the Great Horned Owl.
The actions of the rabbit ana squirrel
did not surprise the boy, who had al
ways heard that this owl was n verita-
BILE Nero among the feathered race.
As yet he had never discovered the
nest OF the Great Horned Owl. Ii was
now the first week In March. OF late
he had heard the weird call frequently
from the swamp. causing him TO be
llevc the birds were nesting there, ana
he fully determined TO make a search
for that nest.
The next day was spent in n fruit
less search. and it perplcSed the hoy.
for often ne had located the nest OF
the bobolink and meadow lark-nests
that are not easily found.
But the second days search ended
about noon, in rather an interesting
manner. The boy stopped for lunch
and a little rest under a hemlock that
he knew well. for. the spring before. n
pair of crows had nest in the tree.
The old nest was still there, and, just
10 see what condition il was in after
the storms OF winter, he ascended the
tree. The nest was between fifty and
sixty feet from The ground. Just I'M
agine the boys surprise when about
thirty feet from the nest to see Great
Horned Owl silently glide of and wing
its way through the tree tops. IL was
revelation. upon reaching IT, to hnd
that the Great Horned owl had really
used the cid crows nest, which had the
appearance OF being slightly remodcled.
and was Sparsely lined with evergreen
leaves ana feathers. In the nest were
three white eggs. about the size OF a
Rantam's. The hoy afterward learn'd
that the usual number Of eggs depos-
itcd hy the Great Horned owl rs two
and that sometimes the bird constructs
nest for itself in n hollow tree or
an evergreen.
ON the first OF Anril there were two
little owls in the nest, and a day later a
third appeared. They were queer-look-
ing little birds, seeming to be nearly
all head and eyes, and their bodies
were covered with the softest Of down.
The young birds grew very slowly.
although the remains of FISH, mice,
squirrels. rabbits and birds OF various
kinds furnished abundant evidence
that the old birds were lavish in sup
plying food. They remained in the
nest for about eleven weeks. which is
long compared with most OF our birds
many young birds leaving the nest in
from twelve 10 fifteen days, and the
woodcock. bob-white and rufiicd
grouse in about as many hours.-Silas
a. Lottridge. in 81. Nicholas.