294 HISTORY OF THE 



or ejected '' pellets" of indigestible matter, a feather is seldom 

 found, and they are said to have been found in Dove cots with 

 Doves that flew in and out without manifesting any fear or alarm. 

 In such cases I think the Owls have been in the habit of enter- 

 ing the cots at dark, gorged with mice — their more natural 

 food — and as they remain quiet during the day, the Doves had 

 become accustomed to their presence. The birds are, as a rule, 

 rather silent. I think they never hoot, but occasionally utter 

 — especially while on the wing — a harsh, horrible scream; and 

 when disturbed in their retreats, they hiss, and make a loud 

 snoring noise. 



Their nests are placed in cavities of trees, burrows in the 

 sides of banks, crevices in rocks, and nooks of buildings. Eggs 

 four to ten, laid upon the debris, pellets of hair, and other re- 

 mains of the birds' food; cream white; occasionally an egg will 

 show markings of pale drab; in form, ovate. A set of six eggs, 

 taken May 16th, 1882, from a hole about three feet deep, in the 

 bank of the Arkansas Kiver, in Texas, measure: 1.63x1.29, 

 1.68x1.28, 1.67x1.26, 1.68x1.30, 1.68x1.28, 1.72x1.29. 



Family BUBONIDiE. Horned Owls, etc. 

 Inner toe decidedly shorter than middle toe; inner edge of inner claw not 

 pectinated; feathers on hinder part of tarsns (if present) pointed downward; 

 first quill shorter than third, and at least one (one to six) quill with inner web 

 sinuated or emarginated. {llidgicay.) 



Genus ASIO Buissox. 



" Size medium. Ear tufts well developed or rudimentary; head small; eyes 

 small. Cere umch arched, its length more than the chord of the culmen. Bill 

 weak, compressed. Only the first (or first and second) outer primary with its 

 inner web emarginated. Tail about half the wing, rounded. Ear conch very 

 large, gill-like, about as long as the height of the skull, with an anterior operculum, 

 which extends its full length, and bordered posteriorly by a raised membrane; 

 the two ears asymmetrical." 



Asio wilsonianus (Less.). 



AMERICAN LONG-EARED OWL. 

 PLATE XX. 



Resident; quite common. Begin laying in April. 



B. 51. R. 395. C. 472. G. 182, 138. U. 366. 



Habitat. The whole of temperate North America; south 

 into Mexico. 



