The birds of America - from drawings made in the United States and their territories (1840) (14748887985)

Identifier: birdsofamericafr01audu (find matches)

Title: The birds of America : from drawings made in the United States and their territories

Year: 1840 (1840s)

Authors: Audubon, John James, 1785-1851 Bowen, John T., ca. 1801-1856?, lithographer

Subjects: Birds Birds

Publisher: New York : Published by J.J. Audubon Philadelphia : J.B. Chevalier

Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries

Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

Text Appearing Before Image:

ving the cheering gratulations ofhis family, and the wholesome repast is about to be spread out;—it is at thismoment, kind reader, that your ear would suddenly be struck by the dis-cordant screams of the Barred Owl. Its ivhah, whah, ivhah, whah-aa isuttered loudly, and in so strange and ludicrous a manner, that I should notbe surprised were you to compare these sounds to the affected bursts oflaughter which you may have heard from some of the fashionable membersof our own species. How often, when snugly settled under the boughs of my temporaryencampment, and preparing to roast a venison steak or the body of a squir-rel, have I been saluted with the exulting bursts of this nightly disturber ofthe 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 nocturnalmarauder alight within a few yards of me, expose his whole body to theglare of my fire, and eye me in such a curious manner that, had it been T^°8- P136.

Text Appearing After Image:

W* - ^////V// C ///• ri-„.._ i^-„, \ . . U.. I 1 a.,.4.,^.-,., I LViiued * i Rnhd THE BARRED OWL. 133 reasonable to do so, I would gladly have invited him to walk in and join mein my repast, that I might have enjoyed the pleasure of forming a betteracquaintance with him. The liveliness of his motions, joined to their odd-ness, have often made me think that his society would be at least as agreeableas that of many of the buffoons we meet with in the world. 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. The Barred Owl is found in all those parts of the United States which Ihave visited, and is a constant resident. In Louisiana it seems to be moreabundant than in any other state. It is almost impossible to travel eight orten miles in any of the retired woods there, without seeing several of themeven in broad day; and, at the approach of night, their cries are heard pro-ceeding from every

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1840

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