180 HORNED OWLS, ETC. 



2. Lighter . acadica, p. 180. 



2'. Darker scotaea, p. 181. 



371. Nyctala tengmalmi richardsoni (Bonap.). Richakd- 



SON Owl. 



Adults. — Eye ring black, face whitish ; under parts gray, heavily 

 blotched with dark brown across breast and streaked with dark brown on 

 belly; upper parts dark brown, spotted with white ; flanks and feet 

 usually bujfy, more or less spotted with brown ; under tail coverts striped 

 with brown. Young : face blackish, eyebrows and malar streak white in 

 sharp contrast ; wings and tail like adidt ; body plain seal brown except 

 for yellowish brown on belly and flanks ; flanks more or less spotted with 

 brown. Length: 9-12, wing 6.60-7.40, tail 4.10-4.70. 



Distribution. — Northern North America from the limit of trees south 

 in winter to Oregon and Colorado. 



Nest. — Probably in holes in trees and, in absence of trees, in bushes. 

 Eggs : probably S to 7, white. 



Food. — Mice, small birds, and insects. 



" Richardson's owl is a boreal species iuhabiting North America 

 from the limit of trees south to the northern tier of states. ... It is 

 common throughout northern Alaska, wherever trees or large bushes 

 occur to afford it shelter. ... It is nocturnal in its habits, remain- 

 ing quiet during the day in the thick foliage of the trees or bushes. 

 In fact, its vision is apparently so affected by bright light that many 

 specimens have been captured alive by persons walking up and 

 taking them in their hands. On this account the Eskimo in Alaska 

 have given it the name of ' blind one.'" (Fisher.) 



372. Nyctala acadica {Gmel). Saw-whet Owl. 



Adults. — Eye ring whitish, face streaked with dark brown ; under parts 



white, streaked vertically with reddish 

 brown, most thickly on breast ; upper 

 parts olive brown, marked with white, 

 finely streaked on head, and coarsely 

 streaked or spotted on back, wings, and 

 tail ; feet plain white or buffy. Young : 

 face blackish, in sharp contrast to 

 white eyebrows and white malar 

 streak ; upper parts and breast plain 

 dark seal brown ; wings and tail as in 

 adult : belly vellowish brown. Length : 

 7.2.5-8.50, wing 5.25-5.90, tail 2.80- 

 3.25. 



Distribution. — From about latitude 

 50° to southern United States, breed- 

 ing south to Pennsylvania, New Mex- 

 ico, and California. 

 Nest. — A deserted woodpecker hole, hollow of a tree, or old squirrels 

 nest. Eggs : 3 to 7, white. 



Food. — Almost wholly mice, but also other small mammals and insects. 



The deeper and darker the forest the better it suits this little 



