No. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 87 



/ 



that a nest was found " some thirty years ago " half a mile from 

 his office, the nest being on elevated ground, in a meadow, and 

 composed of fine grass, and containing four eggs; 1876, an tgg 

 presumably of this species found in the grass at Groton Long 

 Point, and brought to C. L. R. 1 



Strix varia varia Barton. Barred Owl. 



A common resident along the coast; rarer in the interior, 

 where it is most common during October and November. 



Nest. Usually in a hollow tree or in the deep crotch of a 

 tree ; frequently in old hawks' nests ; most common location a 

 chestnut tree; height from the ground, 6 to 45 feet; nest often 

 heavily feathered, and so deep as to hide bird from observation. 



Eggs. 2-4 (of 22 nests recorded by C. L. R., 2 7 contained 

 3 eggs and 15 contained 2 eggs each) ; March 25 — April 15. 



Nesting dates. Earliest record. March 17, 1886, one tgg 

 (L. B. B.). Latest record. May 10, 1879, two eggs (C. L. R.). 



J. N. C. wrote L. B. B. that he considered this species " the 

 most destructive enemy of birds, game, and domestic fowls 

 among all the Hawks and Owls." 



In the winter the numbers of the resident birds are often 

 augmented by a flight from the north. This was the case in the 

 winter of 1882-3, when twenty-six were brought to Mr. Herr- 

 man, then taxidermist of the Peabody Museum; and again in 

 the fall of 1894, when twenty-five were brought to A. H. V. to 

 be mounted. 



Scotiaptex nebulosa nebulosa (J. R. Forster). Great Gray 

 Owl. 



A very rare straggler from the north. 



Connecticut records. Jan. 6, 1843, Stratford, one taken 

 (Linsley) ; 3 Jan. 22, 1893, North Haven, a male secured by a 

 farmer (A. H. V., in Peabody Museum) ; March, 1907, East 

 Haven, one secured by an Italian and sold to a restaurant in 

 New Haven, where it was purchased, a then freshly mounted 

 specimen, by L. C. S. 



1 O. and O., xvi, 4, p. 59. 



2 O. and O., x, 2, p. 25; xiii, 3, pp. 37-4°. 



3 Am. Jour. Set. and Arts, [1] xliv, 2, p. 253; recorded by Merriam, Birds of 

 Conn., p. 70. 



