OF NEW ENGLAND. 329 



place for refuge. After long observation, I am satisfied that 

 our bird feeds entirel}' on the smaller species of quadrupeds, 

 for I have never found any portions of birds about their nests, 

 nor even the remains of a single feather in the pellets which 

 they regurgitate, and ■which are always formed of the bones 

 and hair of quadrupeds." 



(d). I can find no description of any note belonging to this 

 species. 



II. OTUS 



(A) VULGARIS {var. wilsonianus). Long-eared Owl. 



(In Massachusetts, a resident throughout the year.) 



(a). About fifteen inches long. Ear-tufts conspicuous. 

 General colors, fulvous and dark brown or blackish. Above, 

 finely variegated, and mixed with whitish. Breast, etc., 

 streaked, and also barred below. Tail (like the primaries, etc.) 

 mottled and barred. Eyes partly encircled b}'^ black. 



{h). The nest is most often that of a crow or hawk, slightly 

 repaired. Sometimes, however, it is' a fresh one, built by the 

 birds themselves in some dark wood of evergreen, from ten to 

 fifty feet above the ground (" on which," by the wa}'', " the 

 eggs are occasionally' laid"). The eggs are pure white, as are 

 those of most owls, and average about 1*60 X 1*35 of an inch. 

 In 3Iassachusetts, one set, varying in number from three to 

 six, is laid about the middle of April. 



(c). The Long-eared Owls are perhaps the most numerous 

 of American owls, and are common near Boston, where they 

 remain throughout the 3'ear. In spite of their comparative 

 abundance, they are rarely seen, since they frequent the woods 

 by day, and only fly abroad at night, unless, as often happens, 

 they are driven out and rabbled by the Crows. They are easily 

 approached in a strong light, as their vision is dependent upon 

 darkness, but they usually roost in thick swamps, or dark and 

 unfrequented woods of evergreen. At dusk they become active, 

 and silently hunt for their pre}', sometimes flj'ing over fields 

 and meadows, and sometimes perching to watch for it, with 

 their keen eyes. Their hearing being no less acute than 



