no 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



common than the paucity of records would lead us to suppose. Its 

 secretive and nocturnal habits fortunately protect it from vulgar and 

 thoughtless interference in many localities, and it has been known to nest 

 for years in secluded towers, belfries, barn attics and hollow trees without 

 its presence being suspected by neighboring inhabitants. Doctor Fisher 

 has shown, by the examination of hundreds of bone and fur pellets disgorged 

 by these owls, that their food is made up almost entirely of mice, and hence 

 that they should be strictly protected. 



Two broods are said to be reared in a season, and eggs in all stages 

 of incubation are frequently found in the same nest. The eggs are from 

 5 to 1 1 in number and average 1.73 by 1.28 inches in dimensions. When 

 disturbed, like other owls it hisses at its tormentor. Bendire mentions 

 a querulous note, " aek, aek, somewhat like the call of the nighthawk "; 

 and Chapman has heard it utter " a wild, startling scream, a high rapidly 

 repeated cr-r-ree, cr-r-ree, cr-r-ree." 



