owl free to himt,iit might prove an effective aid in protecting 

 the tender garden truck from the depredations of rabbits. 



The Great Horned Owl is easily idientified from its large 

 size, great yellow eyes and the prominent ear tufts which are 

 not ears at all but merely tufts of elongated feathers. 



The Florida Barred Owl or Hoot Owl, Syrnium varium 

 alleni (Ridgw.), next in size to the Great Horned Owl, is also 

 a lover of the woods and is very abundant in the extensive 

 swam,ps of our coast region. Its dark brown coloring, round 

 head devoid of ear tufts and mild, blue-black eyes make identi- 

 fication easy. Chickens, small birds, rats and mice make up 

 the larger part of its food list, but Dr. Fisher concludes that 

 "if a fair balance must be sitruck, this owl is, on the whole, 

 beneficial and should be placed on the list of birds to be pro- 

 tected." 



The little Florida Screech Owl, Mcgascops asio floridanus 

 (RiDGW.), easily idlentified by reason of its small size and 

 prominent ear tufts, is the lasit and least of cur abundant owl 

 neighbors. It has long been a puzzle to naturalists because of 

 its freaky dress, — some individuals appearing in plumage of 

 rusty red, some in mottled gray and black, without regard to 

 age, sex or season. 



In the country this little owl is often a troublesome neighbor 

 for it is likely to take up its abode near the house and send up 

 its unearthly, tremulous., shivering wail directly outside our 

 windows. Out of 255 stomachs examined by Dr. Fisher, i 

 contained poultry, 100 contained insects, 91 contained' mice, 

 38 contained other birds, etc. The fondness for song-birds 

 thus exhibited, seems toi warrant the feeling that the number 

 of screech owls might be limited, although their undoubted' 

 service in destroying field mice must also be taken into serious 

 consideration. 



Beside the four common permanent residents thus enu- 

 merated, we have occasional visitors among other species of 

 owls. 



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