THE BARRED OWL.
STRIX NEBULOSJ, LINN.
P L A T E X L V I . MALE.
SHOULD you, kind reader, find it convenient or agreeable to visit the
noble forests existing in the lower parts of the State of Louisiana, about
the middle of October, when nature, on the eve of preparing for approaching
night, permits useful dews to fall and rest on every plant,
with the view of reviving its leaves, its fruits, or its lingering blossoms,
ere the return of morn; when every night-insect rises on buzzing wings
from the ground, and the fire-fly, amidst thousands of other species, appears
as if purposely to guide their motions through the sombre atmosphere
; at the moment when numerous reptiles and quadrupeds commence
their nocturnal prowlings, and the fair moon, empress of the night, rises
peacefully on the distant horizon, shooting her silvery rays over the
heavens and the earth, and, like a watchful guardian, moving slowly and
majestically along; when the husbandman, just returned to his home,
after the labours of the day, is receiving the cheering gratulations of his
family, and the wholesome repast is about to be spread out for master
and servants alike;—it is at this moment, kind reader, that were you, as
I have said, to visit that happy country, your ear would suddenly be
struck by the discordant screams of the Barred Owl. Its whah, whah,
whah, whali-aa is uttered loudly, and in so strange and ludicrous a manner,
that I should not be surprised were you, kind reader, when you and
I meet, to compare these sounds to the affected bursts of laughter which
you may have heard from some of the fashionable members of our own
species.
How often, when snugly settled under the boughs of my temporary
encampment, and preparing to roast a venison steak or the body of a
squirrel, on a wooden spit, have I been saluted with the exulting bursts
of this nightly disturber of the peace, that, had it not been for him,
would have prevailed around me, as well as in my lonely retreat! How
often have I seen this nocturnal marauder alight within a few yards of
me, exposing his whole body to the glare of my fire, and eye me in such
a curious manner that, had it been reasonable to do so, I would gladly
have invited him to walk in and join me in my repast, that I might have
enjoyed the pleasure of forming a better acquaintance with him. The
liveliness of his motions, joined to their oddness, have often made me
think that his society would be at least as agreeable as that of many of
the buffoons we meet with in the world. But as such opportunities of
forming acquaintance have not existed, be content, kind reader, with the
imperfect information which I can give you of the habits of this Sancho
Pança of our woods.
Such persons as conclude, when looking upon owls in the glare of
day, that they are, as they then appear, extremely dull, are greatly mistaken.
Were they to state, like BUFION, that Woodpeckers are miserable
beings, they would be talking as incorrectly ; and, to one who might
have lived long in the woods, they would seem to have lived only in their
libraries.
The Barred Owl is found in all those parts of the United States
which I have visited, and is a constant resident. In Louisiana it seems
to be more abundant than in any other state. It is almost impossible to
travel eight or ten miles in any of the retired woods there, without seeing
several of them even in broad day ; and, at the approach of night, their
cries are heard proceeding from every part of the forest around the
plantations. Should the weather be lowering, and indicative of the approach
of rain, their cries are so multiplied during the day, and especially
in the evening, and they respond to each other in tones so strange, that
one might imagine some extraordinary fête about to take place among
them. On approaching one of them, its gesticulations are seen to be of
a very extraordinary nature. The position of the bird, which is generally
erect, is immediately changed. It lowers its head and inclines its
body, to watch the motions of the person beneath, throws forward the
lateral feathers of its head, which thus has the appearance of being
surrounded by a broad ruff, looks towards him as if half blind, and
moves its head to and fro in so extraordinary a manner, as almost to
induce a person to fancy that part dislocated from the body. It follows
all the motions of the intruder with its eyes ; and should it suspect any
treacherous intentions, flies off to a short distance, alighting with its back
to the person, and immediately turning about with a single jump, to recommence
its scrutiny. In this manner, the Barred Owl may be followed
to a considerable distance, if not shot at, for to halloo after it does
not seem to frighten it much. But if shot at and missed, it removes to a
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