File:Birds that hunt and are hunted- life histories of one hundred and seventy birds of prey, game birds and water-fowls (1904) (14754949362).jpg

Identifier: cu31924090299755 (find matches)
Title: Birds that hunt and are hunted: life histories of one hundred and seventy birds of prey, game birds and water-fowls
Year: 1904 (1900s)
Authors: Blanchan, Neltje
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: New York, Doubleday, Page & company
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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sion all day, like the little saw-whet owl, are those that have suffered endless persecution fromother birds whenever they ventured abroad in the sunlight, whichis the reason they choose to hunt when others sleep—an interest-ing theory, if nothing more. Nocturnal birds are naturallycounted rarities, even where they are not. This little owl, by nomeans uncommon, is a very sound sleeper, and makes no signof its existence, though one may be passing beneath its perch.So sunk in oblivion is it, and so heavy-eyed with sleep whenroused, that many specimens may be taken with the hand.Hence the expression, As stupid as an owl. Because it issmall enough to crowd on a womans hat, this is a little victimcommonly worn, sometimes with wings and tail outspread, oragain with only its head, like a Cheshire cats, appearing in acloud of trimming. A woman who loudly applauded Dr. VanDykes famous epigram, A bird in the bush is worth two in thehat, at an Audubon Societys meeting held in the Museum of 342
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SAW-WHET OWL.V- Life-size. Horned and Hoot Owls Natural History, New York, in the winter of 1898, had the entireplumage of a saw-whet owl spread over her turban! At thissame meeting another woman with self-righteous superioritywas overhead boasting that she never wore birds, only wings, inher hats! Saw-whet, saw-whet, the love notes of this owl, most fre-quently heard in March and April, have a rasping quality likethe sound heard in a mill when the file is sharpening the teeth ofa saw; not an agreeable noise, perhaps, yet because of the ven-triloqual power of the birds voice, and at the distance we thinkwe hear it, it has a certain fascination. Dense woodlands, particularly evergreen forests, for it dearlyloves a dark retreat, are where the owl passes its days; comingout at night, when its flight, surprisingly like a woodcocks, hasdeceived others than Dr. Fisher into making a worse than wastedshot. Since it feeds almost exclusively on mice and insects, it isfolly to destroy so valuabl

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