Reptiles and Birds / A Popular Account of Their Various Orders, With a Description of the Habits and Economy of the Most Interesting

by Louis Figuier

Horned Owls.

Horned Owls are distinguished by two tufts or horns of feathers placed on each side of their head. They are subdivided into three genera—the Great Horned Owls, the Long-eared Owls, and Small Horned Owls.

The Common Great Owl (Bubo maximus), [Fig. 274], is the most remarkable of the family on account of its size and strength. Its height is, on an average, two feet, and it is justly acknowledged as the king of nocturnal birds. Its bill and claws are of a black colour, very strong and hooked. Its plumage is russet, variegated with black spots and brown stripes; its wings, when extended, are not less than five feet across. Its eyes are large and fixed, with black pupils surrounded with yellow. It bears light with less inconvenience than the other nocturnal birds, and therefore goes out sooner in the evening and returns home later in the morning. This bird makes its home among the clefts of rocks, or in the recesses of old towers situated on the mountains, which elevated ground it but rarely leaves to descend into the plain. Its cry, huibou, houhou, bouhou, ouhou, resounding in the silence of the night, is a source of terror to those animals which form its prey. It feeds principally upon hares, rabbits, moles, rats, and mice. Now and then, and especially when rearing its young, which are very voracious, it devours toads, frogs, and small reptiles.

Fig. 274.—Great Owl (Strix bubo, Linn.).

The Great Owl is very courageous, and often has battles with the Tawny Eagle, from which it frequently comes off with honour. The fight is sometimes so severe that it terminates in the death of both combatants.

M. Bailly relates that he was told, by reliable witnesses, that an Eagle and Great Owl, which were fighting together in the mountains of Savoy, drove their claws so deep into one another's flesh that they could not withdraw them, so both died from their wounds on the scene of action. In a similar fight near Zurich a Great Owl, which was the conqueror, was so fastened to its adversary that they fell to the ground together, and, being unable to disengage its talons, was in consequence taken alive.

When wounded so as to be unable to fly, and attacked by dogs, the Great Owl will sell its life as dearly as possible; for, turning upon its back, with open claws and menacing bill it presents an appearance to its enemies which is enough to make the bravest shrink from the assault.

In spite of this combative temperament, the Great Owl easily becomes tame; it knows its name, and comes at the call of its master. Perfect liberty may then be safely allowed it, as it will remain in the neighbourhood of its home, returning at meal-times. Frisch relates that he twice kept birds of this kind, and that they lived for a considerable time; he fed them on ox-flesh and liver. They would sometimes swallow as many as five mice without stopping, having first broken their bones with blows from their bills. In case of necessity they would eat fish. Some hours after taking their food, they ejected the bones and hair of their victims. Instances have been known, however, in which this Owl would not submit to confinement.

The Great Owl is possessed of the strongest attachment to its young. M. Cronstedt, a Swiss gentleman, lived for several years on a farm situated at the foot of a mountain, on the top of which a couple of Great Owls built their nest. The servants caught and shut up in a hen-house one of the young birds, which the thirst for rapine had doubtless impelled prematurely to leave the maternal abode. The next morning they were surprised to find at the door of the hen-house a freshly-killed Partridge. The idea was that the parent birds, attracted by the cries of the young Owl, had thus provided for its sustenance. The same thing occurred fourteen days running. M. Cronstedt, wishing to come to a right understanding on the matter, watched during several nights in order to surprise the hen bird in this act of maternal love. But he failed, probably because the bird, thanks to its penetrating sight, took advantage to leave her offspring's provisions at a moment when his attention was diverted. These parental duties ceased in the month of August, when the young bird became capable of providing for itself.

The Great Owl inhabits Europe and Asia, but is common in Switzerland and Italy. It is not often met with in France, except in the eastern and southern departments, where it rarely remains during winter.

Another species, which is very common in Egypt, differs but little from the last mentioned. It is sometimes seen in the South of Sardinia and Sicily. It is commonly designated by the name of the Great Short-eared Owl.

The Virginian Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), the Strix virginiana of Vieillot, inhabits North and South America. This bird is nearly the size of the Great Owl of Europe; it is distinguished from the latter by a different arrangement of the feathered projections on its head, which, instead of starting from the ears, take their rise close to the bill. This bird feeds on young Gallinaceæ, which it boldly carries off from the very midst of the poultry-yards; the Turkey especially is a particular favourite with it. When other food fails, it feeds on dead fish found on the river-banks. If caught when young it is easily tamed, but as it gets mature its bloodthirsty instincts become so powerful that it ultimately proves a most expensive pet.

The Short-eared Owl ([Fig. 275]) is about a foot in height. The horns on this species' head are shorter than those of the Great Owl in proportion to the birds' size. Its wings are thirty-nine inches across; in its plumage russet predominates, shaded with grey and brown. It has a blackish bill and claws, and beautiful yellow eyes. It inhabits hollows in rocks or dead trees, and old ruined houses, and sometimes instals itself in nests left vacant by Magpies, Ravens, and Buzzards. It is much less wild than the Great Owl, and is frequently in the habit of prowling round dwelling-houses.

This Owl being very fond of mice, which form its principal food, all that is requisite to attract it to a snare is to imitate the cry of these little animals. It also feeds on moles, and, in cases of emergency, even on frogs, toads, leverets, young rabbits, and insects. This bird displays much courage in the defence of its young when it thinks them in danger, and does not then fear even to attack man. Its cry consists of a kind of low moaning clow, cloud, which it frequently utters during the night. It is easily tamed if taken young; but if old when caught, it persistently refuses food.

The Short-eared Owl is more sociable than most nocturnal birds of prey, and is often met with in flocks of seven or eight. Its habitat is the North of Europe, quitting it in the autumn to winter in warmer regions: it regularly visits France in October and November. It is sometimes found in thickets close to marshes and rivers, where it catches frogs, and even fish. In the North, especially in Iceland, it builds its nest in the ground, sometimes occupying burrows made by rabbits. We shall see further on that this singularity is shared by one of the American Owls.

Fig. 275.—Short-eared Owl (Strix brachyotus, Yarrell).

A species very similar to the last described is found in Senegal; but the head, tarsi, and lower part of the body are white; its height is ten inches.

Lastly, the Ketupu is a native of the islands of the Indian Archipelago. It often frequents the banks of rivers, and feeds principally upon crabs and fish. The name it bears is that which has been given to it by the natives.

The Scops-eared Owl (Scops), [Fig. 276], is remarkable for its diminutive size, which does not exceed that of a Thrush, and for its horns, which are perfectly rudimentary and formed of a single feather. Its plumage, which is beautifully shaded with russet, grey, and black, is much more pleasing than that of the preceding species.

Fig. 276.—The Scops-eared Owl (Strix buboninæ, Linn.).

These Owls are more sociable than larger ones, and assemble in flocks in autumn and spring to migrate into warmer climates; they depart after the Swallows, and get to their destination about the same time. They are of great service to the agriculturist in destroying field-mice. "At times when this kind of scourge was prevalent," says Buffon, "Small Horned Owls have been known to arrive in numbers, and wage such a successful warfare against the field-mice, that in a few days the ground was cleared of them."

Dale, an English author, mentions another example of the utility of the Scops. In 1580 such a large quantity of mice appeared in the plains near South Minster that all the plants were gnawed off by the roots. Soon after, a number of Small Horned Owls came in flocks, and destroyed the mice.

When pressed by hunger, the Scops is not above eating fish. It may then be seen hovering over ponds and rivers, and seizing fish upon the surface with remarkable dexterity. Bats and large insects also are its prey.

It is difficult to kill or catch the Scops, although they travel in numerous companies; for they do not begin their journey until the evening, a short time before night closes in, and settle down in the woods during the day. If they meet with a place favourable for their subsistence, such as a plain intersected by marshes and small woods, they remain there for two or three days. In the evening they have a strange habit of following people passing through their haunts. Sometimes they precede them, hopping from tree to tree, and uttering low, plaintive cries, frequently fluttering round almost sufficiently close to touch them. The Scops is easily tamed, and becomes very familiar; it is, consequently, in much request in Savoy for the purpose of bird-catching. It perfectly recognises the voice of whoever feeds it, and, although at liberty, will not abandon the house of its master. But when the season of migration arrives it would be of no use to attempt to detain it; kindness and caresses are all in vain. Unless the precaution of shutting it up be taken, it rejoins its companions, and accompanies them, perhaps, to Africa or Asia.

There is a variety of this bird, named Scops asio, which is found in North America, on the shores of the Ohio and Mississippi. It is very gentle, and allows itself to be caressed when taken, without attempting to bite or scratch. Audubon relates that he carried one of these birds from New York to Philadelphia; he kept it in his pocket during the whole journey, accustomed it to eat out of his hand, and the bird did not attempt to escape.

Several other species of Scops are scattered over the two continents. The most interesting is the exotic species called Choliba, which the inhabitants of Brazil and Paraguay rear in their dwellings to destroy rats and mice.