BABBEB OWL 291 



(lering the greatest service in extirpating the pests. 

 The like has also been observed in Scandinavia 

 during the wonderful irruptions of lemmings and 

 other small rodents to which some districts are 

 liable, and it w^onld appear that the Short-eared 

 Owl is the species which plays a principal part in 

 getting rid of the destructive horde." 



Barred Owl ; Hoot Owl : Symium nehulosum. 



(Plate XXIV.) 



Geographic Distribution. — Eastern North America, west to 

 the Plains ; northward to Nova Scotia and Manitoba ; resident 

 except at the northern limit of its range. 



The larger part of the food of the Barred Owl 

 consists of mammals, including among them the 

 most destructive rodents with which the farmer 

 has to contend. Heavily wooded swamps and 

 hemlock forests are the favorite haunts of this 

 retiring Owl. It is one of the noisiest of its 

 family, and probably oftener heard than any 

 other. Adirondack campers are often startled by 

 its cry at night, although, as Major Bendire re- 

 marks, '' a rapidly passing shadow distinctly cast 

 on the snow-covered ground is often the sole cause 

 of its presence being betrayed as it glides silently 

 by the hunter's camp-fire in the still hours of a 

 moonlight night." Its hoot is given as rchoo-iohoo- 

 whoo^ icho'whoo-to-ivhoo-ah, uttered in an interro- 

 gatory tone. 



Doctor Fisher tells us that " it is the common- 



