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.
Hornless Owls.
The family of Hornless Owls is distinguished from the Horned group by the absence of projecting feathers on their heads. They comprehend several species, the principal of which are Sparrow Owls (Strix passerina, Aud.), Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia), Barn or Screech Owls (Strix flammea), Hawk Owls (Surnia funerea), Ural Owls (Surnia uralensis), and Snow Owls (Surnia nictea).
Sparrow Owls are of small size; their facial disk is incomplete; the tarsi are elongated; the claws bare or slightly hairy; their tails short and square. There are numerous species, of which we shall only notice the principal.
The Common Sparrow Owl, which is very numerous in France, and, in fact, through the whole of Europe, is about the size of a Thrush. It inhabits old ruins and quarries, but never lives in the hollows of trees; therefore it rarely makes its abode in the woods. Its nature is much less nocturnal than that of its congeners, and it is often seen pursuing small birds in broad daylight, though probably with but little success. Its general food consists of mice, which it tears in pieces before eating, as it is unable to swallow them whole. It also very skilfully plucks the feathers from birds which become its victims. In winter, when the snow is on the ground, it devours the filth deposited in the farm-yards. Like the Scops, it delights in following persons who pass its retreat, especially at the break of dawn. When flying it utters a cry, poopoo, poopoo! which it substitutes, when perched, for a sound very like the voice of a young Frenchman saying aime, heme, esme! Buffon relates a curious anecdote on this subject:—"I was sleeping in an old tower of the Château of Montbard, when a little before daybreak, at three o'clock in the morning, a Sparrow Owl came and perched on the window-seat of my chamber, and woke me by its cry of heme, edme. As I listened to this voice, which seemed to me all the more singular as it was so near, I heard one of my servants, who was sleeping in a room above, open his window, and, deceived by the well-articulated sound of edme, answer the bird: 'Who is down there? My name is not Edme, but Peter.' The servant actually believed that it was a man calling, so much did the voice of the Owl resemble that of a human being, and so distinctly did it articulate the word."