STRIGID^ - THE OWLS. 21 



Dr. Cooper met with this species on the hanks of the Columbia, east of 

 the Dalles. The region was desolate and harren, and several species of Owls 

 appeared to have been drawn there by tiie abundance of liaves and mice. 

 Dr. Suckley also met witli it on a branch of ;\Iill< iJiver, in Nebraska. It 

 has likewise been taken in different parts of California, in New Mexico, 

 among tlie IJocky ilountaius, in the valley of the Kio Grande, at Fort Ben- 

 ton, and at Cape Florida, in the last-named place by Mr. Wtirdeniaun. 



Dr. Cooper found this Owl quite common near San Diego, and in Marcli 

 observed them sitting in pairs in the evergreen oaks, apparently not nmcli 

 troubled by the light. On the 27th of March he Ibund a nest, probably that 

 of a Crow, Iniilt in a low evergreen oak, in which a female Owl was sitting 

 on five eggs, tlien partly hatched. The bird was quite bold, flew round him, 

 snapping her bill at him, and tried to draw him away from the nest ; the 

 female imitating tlie cries of wounded birds witli remarkable accuracy, 

 showing a power of voice not supposed to e.\ist in Owls, liut more in the 

 manner of a Parrot. He took one of the eggs, and on tlie 23d of April, on 

 revisiting the nest, he found tliat the others had hatched. Tlie egg measured 

 1.60 by 1.36 inches. Dr. Cooper also states that he has found this Owl 

 wandering into the barren treeless deserts east of the Sierra Nevada, where 

 it was frequently to be met with in the autumn, hiding in the thickets along 

 the streams. It also resorts to caves, where any are to be found. 



Dr. Kennerly met with this bird in the canons west of the Aztec Moun- 

 tains, where they find good places for their nests, which they build, in 

 common with Crows and Hawks, among the precipitous cliffs, — places un- 

 approachable by the wolf and lynx. 



On the Atlantic coast the Long-eared Owl occurs in more or less abun- 

 dance fruni Nova Scotia to Florida. It is found in the vicinity of Halifax, 

 according to Mr. Downes, and about Calais according to Mr. Boardman, 

 though not abundantly in either region. In Western Maine, and in the rest 

 of New England, it is more common. It has been known to breed at least 

 as far south as Maryland, Mr. \V. M. McLean tiudiug it in Eockville. Mr. 

 C. N. Holdeu, Jr., during his residence at Sherman, in Wyoming Territory, 

 met with a single specimen of this bird. A number of Magpies were in tlie 

 same bush, but did not seem either to molest or to be afraid of it. 



The food of this bird consists chiefly of small quadrupeds, insects, and, to 

 some extent, of small birds of various kinds. Audubon mentions tinding 

 the stomach of one stuffed with featliers, hair, and bones. 



The Long-eared Owl appears to nest for the most part in trees, and also 

 frequently to make use of the nests of other birds, such as Crows, Hawks, 

 or Herons. Occasionally, however, they construct nests for themselves. Au- 

 dubon speaks of finding such a one near the Juniata l!i\ er, in Pennsylvania. 

 This was composed of green twigs Avith the leaflets adhering, and lined 

 with fresh grass and sheep's wool, but without feathers. Mr. Kennicott 

 sent me from Illinois an e^g of this bird, that liad been taken from a nest on 



