288 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



I have seen a few nests, however, on Hving trees. The food of 

 this species consists principally of fish. I have watched them, 

 after flying slowly over a shallow bay, stop and hover for a few 

 seconds, then close their- wings and drop like a meteor upon some 

 luckless fish which they seldom fail in catching. On a few occa- 

 sions I have seen them with snakes. Their nest is a huge heap of 

 sticks, usually placed on the top of a tall stub, scarcely ever less 

 than fifty feet from the ground. (Spreadborough.) 



Family XXIX. STRIGID^. Barn Owls. 

 CLIII. STRIX. LiNN^us. 1758. 



365. American Barn Owl. 



Strix pratincola Bonap. 1838. 

 Apparently* rare in Newfoundland, only one specimen taken. 

 {Reeks.) In May, 1882, a specimen was killed by young Mr. Reid, 

 gardener, York street, Hamilton, and in the fall of the same year 

 another was found in an empty out-house near the canal leading 

 to Dundas. Dr. Garnier, of Lucknow, Ont., saw one some years 

 ago; and Mr. C. J. Brampton, of Sault Ste. Marie, reports having 

 seen two at that place. (Mcllwraith.) A specimen was captured 

 alive on a coal dock near the bay-front, Toronto, on September 

 7th, 1899. The bird soon died and proved to be a male. This is 

 the only Toronto record of which I am aware. (/. H. Flemmg in 

 The Auk, Vol. XVII., p. 177.) In the Bryant collection in the 

 Museum of Comparative Zoology there is an American barn owl 

 taken by Mr. Louis Cabot at Long Point, Ont., early in November, 

 1899. The specimen (No. 1482) was secured for the collection 

 by Mr. H. B. Bigelow. (Reginald Heber Howe, jr., in The Auk, 

 Vol. XIX., p. 79.) 



Family XXX. BUBONID^. Horned Owls, &c 



CLIV. ASIO. Brisson. 1760. 



366. American Long-eared OwL 



Asio wilsonianus (Less.) Coues. 1882. 

 This species, like most of the owls, is so retiring in its habits 

 that their absence from a district is more apparent than real. On 

 this account we conclude that it breeds in its range from New- 



