FOREST BIRDS 151 



A recluse of cedar swamps and dense evergreens, 

 the voice of this retiring Owl is so seldom heard that 

 no one seems to know much about it. The bird's 

 presence is as often betrayed by the pellets scat- 

 tered beneath its roost as in any other way. 



The Long-cared Owl nests early in April, laying 

 its three to six white eggs in an old Crow, Hawk, 

 or Squirrel nest. 



Barred Owl 



Next to the Great Horned Owl, the Barred Owl is 

 the largest of our resident Owls. He has no horns, 

 and his eyes are dark brown or black, while his 

 plumage, particularly that of his face, lacks the yel- 

 lowish brown tints of that of the Great Horned. 

 The voices of the two birds are much alike, but the 

 Barred Owl's is less deep and the hoots of his call 

 are not all on one note. "Whoo-whoo-whoo, who- 

 whoo, to-whoo-ah" he calls in tones that go boom- 

 ing through the woods. With a little practice one 

 can learn to speak the Barred Owl's language well 

 enough to be understood by the Owl, even if one 

 cannot understand oneself! Whenever I hear one 

 I always answer him and he rarely fails to come to 

 me, even in the daytime. Perching near where I 

 am concealed, he peers down with such an intelligent 

 look in his dark eyes that I often feel I am talking 



