RAPTORES: STRIGID^E. 



The Great Gray Owl, 5. cincrctim, Aud., of Northern 

 North America, is the largest of our owls, being twenty- 

 five to thirty inches long, and the wing eighteen: In win- 

 ter it wanders over a large part of the United States. 



The Barred Owl, 5. nebulosum, Gray, of Eastern North 

 America, is about twenty inches long, and the wing 

 thirteen to fourteen inches ; the upper parts light ashy- 

 brown, with transverse narrow bands of white ; the breast 

 with transverse bands of brown and white ; the abdo- 

 men ashy white, with longitudinal stripes of brown. It 

 destroys poultry, hares, and birds, and its cry is very loud 

 and discordant. It lays four to six globular white eggs 

 in a hollow tree. 



The Genus Nyctale comprises small owls with small 

 eyes, and ear-tufts which are only observable when 

 erected. Four species belong to America. 



The Sparrow Owl, N. RicJiardsonii, Bonap., of North- 

 ern North America, is about ten and a half inches long, 

 and the wing seven and a half inches ; the upper parts 

 pale reddish-brown tinged with olive, with partially con- 

 cealed spots of white ; the under parts ashy white, with 

 longitudinal stripes of reddish brown ; the quills brown, 

 with small spots of white on their outer edge, and large 

 spots of white on their webs ; the tail brown, every feather 

 with about ten pairs of white spots. 



Kirtland's Owl, N. albifrons, Cass., of Northern North 

 America, is about eight inches long ; the head, upper 

 part of the breast, and entire upper parts, chocolate- 

 brown ; the forehead, throat, and a line running down- 

 wards from the base of the under mandible, white ; the 

 other under parts of the body reddish ochre-yellow. 



The Acadian or Saw-whet Owl, A 7 ", acadica, Bonap., of 

 temperate North America, is seven and a half to eight 

 inches long ; the upper parts brown tinged with olive ; 

 the under parts ashy white, with longitudinal stripes of 



