BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 207 



with small lanceolate and circular spots of brownish -black; 

 under coverts of wings and tail white; quills fawn color; 

 primaries with about five irregular transverse bars of brown- 

 ish-black; tail with about four or five bands of dark brown; face 

 white; spots of dark chestnut brown around the eyes; irides 

 brownish-black; bill, toes and claws, light yellowish. 



Length (of female), 16; wing, 13; tail 5.50. 



Habitat. North America, from New York and Minnesota, 

 southward through Mexico. 



Family BUBONID^ 



ASIO WILSONIANUS (Lesson). (366.) 

 AMERICAN LONG-EARED OWL. 



Although falling far short of being as common a species in 

 this State as the Great Horned Owl, {Bubo virginianus), it is 

 by no means rare. Its extremely reticent, and entirely noctur- 

 nal habits, have led many, conversant with the general habits 

 of the birds to suppose it to be a very unusual migrant here, 

 instead of a permanent resident. For the reasons already 

 suggested, little is yet known of its breeding habits. A few 

 nests have come within my observation, some of which were 

 found within what has since become a portion of our city limits. 

 Between Lakes Calhoun and Harriet, there is a Tamarack 

 swamp, very densely wooded, or was until thinned out by the 

 Lakewood Cemetery Company. In the forks of some of the 

 tallest members of the group, were some nests of the Long 

 eared Owl. The nests consist of green larch twigs, leaves and 

 grass. In the heart of the Big Woods are many small dried 

 swamps untouched by the woodman's axe. Not many of these 

 will need to be searched by one practiced in hunting birds' 

 nests in their season, before the labor will be rewarded by the 

 discovery of not only the nest of this species, but that also of 

 the Saw-whet Owl. But of that, more in its own place. The 

 eggs are four in number, and pure white. 



The first brood is on the wing before April is gone, and the 

 last, by the first of August. Their food consists of mice, and 

 small birds. No other species of owl is so exclusively noctur- 

 nal in all of its habits. They are quite generally distributed 

 where there is heavy timber. 



Mr. Washburn found them common at Thief River in Otter 

 Tail county, from which circumstance we may with abundant 

 reason, suppose them equally so in the northern sections of 

 the State generally 



