File:Birds that hunt and are hunted; (1905) (14563590169).jpg

Identifier: birdsthathuntar00blan (find matches)
Title: Birds that hunt and are hunted;
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors: Blanchan, Neltje, 1865-1918
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: New York, Doubleday, Page & company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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in a dense evergreen or in its favorite hollow;and except for the persecutions of the blue jay, that takes a mis-chievous delight in routing it from its nap and driving it abroadfor all the saucy birds in the orchard to pursue and peck at, weshould never know of its presence. In the early spring especiallyit lifts up its voice—too doleful a love song to be effective, onewould think ; yet the screechers mate apparently considers itentrancing, since she remains mated for life. In the southern andcentral portions of its range, nesting begins in March; in the NewEngland and northern parts some time between the middle ofApril and the first of May. A natural cavity in a hollow tree, or anabandoned woodpeckers hole are favorite nooks, and boxes nailedup under the dark eaves of outbuildings on the farm or in denseevergreen trees where light cannot strike the owls sensitive eyes,have been promptly appropriated in many instances. It is generally known that all owls go through some strange 344
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SCREECH OWL. Horned and Hoot Owls performances to woo their mates, but few have been so fortunateas Mr. Lynds Jones, who watched a pair of screech owls mating.The female was perched in a dark, leafy tree, he says, appar-ently oblivious of the presence of her mate, who made franticefforts, through a series of bowings, wing-raisings, and snappings,to attract her attention. Those antics were continued for sometime, varied by hops from branch to branch near her, accompaniedby that forlorn, almost despairing wink peculiar to this bird.Once or twice I thought I detected sounds of inward groanings,as he, beside himself with his unsuccessful approaches, sat inutter dejection. At last his mistress lowered her haughty head.When hunting, the owl moves like a shadow, so silentlydoes it pass in the darkness. Insects, cut worms, and mice arewhat it is ever seeking; but sharp hunger in winter has sometimesled it into butchery of little birds. Of two hundred and fifty-fivestomachs of screech owls exa

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