200 BULLETIN 17 0, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Mr. Howell (1932) writes: "Of 9 stomachs recently examined in the 

 Biological Survey from various parts of Florida, 3 contained crawfishes; 

 3, mammals — cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus), deer mouse (Peromys- 

 cus), and water rat (Neqfiber alleni); 3, the remains of fishes; and 1, 

 a large beetle." 



Behavior. — The general habits of the Florida barred owl do not differ 

 essentially from those of the northern race. Southern birds seem to 

 be tamer and bolder, or more inquisitive, as the following two accounts 

 will illustrate. While I was hunting with C. J.'Pennock, in Charlotte 

 County, he demonstrated his ability to call up these owls by imitating 

 their voice. He relates the following incident in his notes: "One so 

 called came to me as I stood by a river bank about to row down stream; 

 after I had started afloat the bird followed and alighted on an over- 

 hanging limb, perhaps 30 feet above the water. Pulling quietly under 

 him, he sat undisturbed while I talked to him in an ordinary tone; 

 this performance was twice repeated, the bird following me down- 

 stream each time and taking a rather low but commanding view of the 

 boat and passenger. He was finally left astern when the open marsh 

 banks were reached." 



Francis M. Weston writes to me: "On four occasions — involving 

 at least three individual birds at widely separated times and places — 

 I have had barred owls come to the 'squeak' that I use to attract 

 small birds. All four of these occasions were between 7.00 a. m. and 

 noon in bright weather. On two occasions the owl merely appeared, 

 flying toward the sound and checking his flight while still 20 or 30 feet 

 away. On another occasion, he actually passed between me and a 

 companion, standing about 4 feet away, and hovered for a few seconds 

 before being convinced of his mistake and flying away. The fourth 

 time the owl came from behind me and realized his error only just 

 in time to avoid striking me. How near his talons came to the back 

 of my neck I have no way of knowing, but I distinctly felt the wind 

 from his wings, when he checked his flight, and he brushed the brim 

 of my hat as he swerved away. The whole action was perfectly noise- 

 less, except for the momentary scraping of stiff primaries on the rough 

 straw of the hat." 



Voice. — The Florida barred owl seems to be even more loquacious 

 than the northern bird, though this may be clue to the fact that it is 

 more numerous and perhaps more sociable. Dr. Ralph (Bendire, 

 1892) says: "During the first few years in which I visited these locali- 

 ties they were so abundant that at times — when they were mating, 

 I think — I have heard nearly a hundred calling at once. * * * I 

 have known them to utter their calls from the roof of the house in 

 which I lived as unconcernedly as they do now in the most isolated 

 swamps." He gives the call notes as similar to those of the northern 

 bird, and says: 



