LONG-EARED OWL 165 



looks in print; another is a low twittering, whistling note like 'dicky, 

 dicky, dicky', quite different from anything usually expected from or 

 attributed to the Owl family." 



Mr. Dawson (1923) mentions "the regular note of disapproval, a 

 sort of groaning execration used chiefly by the male, Morach moraaaoow, 

 werek werek wraaow, wreck wraaa — all very 'flat' and very emphatic." 

 Dr. Townsend's (1918) owl "constantly uttered low notes which 

 suggested at times the barking of a small puppy, at times the notes 

 lid-hunk." Dr. G. Clyde Fisher (1919) heard "a softly whistled 

 whee-you, the two syllables slurred together. Although scarcely as 

 long as the ordinary note of the Phoebe, in quality it suggested that 

 of the Screech Owl — being, however, much shorter and more fre- 

 quently uttered than the latter." Ernest T. Seton (1890) mentions 

 "a strange shrieking, between the cry of a fox and a cat" and "a loud 

 long cry like on-il-il-il-il-il-il-loo." 



Alden H. Miller (1935) says that the hoot of the female is "four or 

 five half tones higher" than that of the male. He says of the hoot of 

 the male: "The pitch at first approximated that of a female Horned 

 Owl. As the hoots were repeated the pitch was raised as much as 

 five half tones. Even so, they were remarkably low for so small an 

 Owl. Six to twenty hoots were given in a series and often only a few 

 minutes elapsed between groups of hoots." 



Field marks. — Being intermediate in size between the great horned 

 and screech owls, the long-eared might be mistaken for either of these 

 "eared" owls under certain circumstances, though it is relatively 

 slenderer than either; in flight it is more wavering and uncertain, and 

 it has relatively longer wings and tail. When perched its "ears" rise 

 more nearly from the center of the head; it lacks the white throat of 

 the great horned and is more longitudinally striped, less transversely 

 barred, on the under parts. Its brown facial disks and its color 

 pattern should distinguish it from the screech owls when perching at 

 short range. As its "ears" do not show in flight, and sometimes not 

 when perched, it might be confused with the short-eared owl, which it 

 resembles in size and manner of flight, but it is more darkly colored, 

 grayer, less buffy, and differently marked; neither of these owls is 

 likely to be seen in the normal habitat of the other. E. S. Cameron 

 (1907) says that "when this owl is in flight, a brown spot shows con- 

 spicuously on the buff lining of the wings underneath the primary 

 bases." 



Enemies. — Owls have few enemies except man; unfortunately they 

 are usually shot on sight, because they are big and are picturesque as 

 mounted specimens, or because they are supposed to destroy game and 

 domestic poultry; this is a rank injustice to this beneficial mouser. 

 Crows, jays, grackles, and many other birds habitually pester this 

 and other owls, but they do no real harm to them. L. M. Terrill says 



