Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-08-08
A Creature of the Night.

cause II does not, as rule, SNOW llSell
during the day. The bird ! refer to, OF
course, is the owl. Now, there are sew
eral kinds of owls. In appearance they
have much in common, though there are
variations among owls as among all birds
belonging to the same families.
But owls have one common mark by
which they are distinguished from others:
their eyes are formed for seeing better in
the dusk than in the broad glare of SUM-
shine. You see, nature does not compel
the creatures of the earth to live under
peculiar conditions without equipping
them for the life they lead. And so the
owls, which prey chiefly on mice, are
able 10 find food when it is at hand. The
common barn owl, for instance, sees SO
well in the dark that, after the barn in
which il sleeps has been closed for the
night, the bird is able to catch the mice
when they come out of their holes to feed
and play.
WHEN THE MOON is OUT.
Owls seem to delight in moonlight
nights, and the reason is easy to under
stand. Moonlight is just the kind Of light
that best suits the birds eyes, and also
their method of hunting for food, since
then the mice and certain small birds may
be taken unawares. You will, dare
say, have seen the owls leave the barn
or some old ruin after dusk, and | have
no doubt you have heard his eerie hoot,
which superstitious folk used TO associate
with ghosts and goblins.
II the birds leave their retreats at the
approach of dusk, they return before it is
absolutely dark, and then rise by twilight
the next morning to pursue their game,
returning in like manner before the broad
daylight begins to dazzle their eyes.
This peculiarly of seeing best at dusk
also applies TO certain animals, such as
the tiger and the cat, which are supposed
to find their food at night. 1t is possible
to explain how these creatures can see
so well, when mankind can scarcely see
at all but am afraid you would not un-
derstand, and so let il suffice to say that
the eyes OF owls, tigers and cats are dif-
ferent from human eyes, because they
take in more and fainter rays OF light.
You will have noticed that owls have
larger eyes than most birds, and this
again is evidence Of their quick-Sighted-
ness.
But this faculty OF seeing in the night,
or OF being entirely dazzed by the light
of day. is not alike in all these night
prowlng birds, for there are, as you
know, exceptions to every rule. Some
see by night better than others, while
some are so little dazzled by daylight,
that they perceive their enemies and
avoid them. The barn owl, as have
said, can catch mice in the darkest night;
but the brown horned owl is often seen
to prowl along the hedgerows by day,
like the sparrow hawk, and we know
that he does not hunt for nothing.
Mention of the horned owl is remind
er that owls possess other peculiarities
worth noting. In fact, owls may be di-
vided into two clasSes-those that have
horns and those that are without. These
horns are not horns in the sense OF those
worn by cattle. The owls horns are
nothing more than tufts OF feathers, which
stand upon each side of the head over the
ear. The tufts have the look OF small
horns. and give the birds rather comic
al appearance.
Besides the barn, or screech owl, there
are the great horned owl, the small horn
ed owl, the snowy owl, and the burrow-
ing owl. The last named makes its home
in North America, and it gets its name
from the fact that il lives in burrows like
the rabbit.
When the owl catches mouse, il car
ries it to the nest in its claws and moi
in its beak, unless the bird has to climb
in order to reach its little home. Vulgar
as it may seem, the owl swallows its food
whole. When about TO devour mouse,
the bird seizes it across the back and
gives it few sharp bites. The mouse is
then jerked upwards, and gradually dis
appears with a series OF gulps. Now,
the question arises, how is so small a
bird to get rid OF the bones and other de-
tails not easy of digestion ? Nature again
provides for the way. The digestive or
gans of the owl are so arranged that only
the softer parts of the live food are d.
gested. The bones are elected through
the throat in the form of hard dry pellets.
That is very wonderful provision of na-
ture, since it is not necessary for the owl
to tear its food in pieces like most other
birds and animals.
When the brown owl hoots, its throat
swells out almost to the size of an egg,
and many people dislike the bird because
of its note. But the owl is very useful
bird, and hope you are not among those
who pursue it from wrong motives. II
we had more owls we should have few
er mice, which do good deal OF damage
to crops and in the granaries. The owl
should always be protected, and eSpe-
cially by the farmers, who may regard
the bird as a friend.
"You ought to have seen Mr.. Marshall