EASTERN SCREECH OWL 243 



apparently similar; the characters of the race are well emphasized in 

 the juvenal plumage; its eggs are unknown, so far as I know. 



OTUS ASIO NAEVIUS (Gmelin) 



eastern screech owl 

 Plates 61, 62 



HABITS 



Because the Linnaean name Strix asio was based on Catesby's 

 "little owl" from South Carolina, our familiar screech owl of the north- 

 eastern United States has to be given the above new name, which is 

 based on the name that Pennant gave to the "mottled owl" in his 

 Arctic Zoology. 



This species, as represented by its various races, is widely distributed 

 from extreme southern Canada throughout practically the whole of the 

 United States and well into Mexico. It is fairly common and well 

 known throughout most of this range. As the eastern race enjoys the 

 widest distribution and is the best known, it will be treated more fully 

 than the other races, all of which are much alike in general habits. 



Courtshij). — Many of us have heard the tremulous and lugubrious 

 wailings of the screech owl during the mating season, when this and 

 other owls are most active in their vocal performances; but, because 

 these demonstrations of affection are indulged in mainly during the 

 hours of darkness, few of us have ever seen the birds in action. Dr. 

 Lynds Jones was more fortunate, and wrote to Major Bendire (1892) 

 as follows: 



I saw this species mating once. The female was perched in a dark leafy tree 

 apparently oblivious of the presence of her mate, who made frantic efforts through 

 a series of bowings, wing-raisings, and snappings to attract her attention. These 

 antics were continued for some time, varied by hops from branch to branch near 

 her, accompanied by that forlorn, almost despairing wink peculiar to this bird. 

 Once or twice I thought I detected sounds of inward groanings, as he, beside him- 

 self with his unsuccessful approaches, sat in utter dejection. At last his mistress 

 lowered her haughty head, looked at and approached him. I did not stay to see 

 the sequel. 



F. H. Carpenter (1883) had a pair of screech owls that raised a 

 brood of young in captivity; he writes: "About the first of February, 

 1883, their actions towards each other began to change. Instead of 

 snapping at one another for a bit of meat, I was surprised to see one 

 of them take a bit of food and carry it to the other one that was perched 

 on the topmost beam, which in turn gravely received it. * * * 

 These attentions seemed to increase. They would sit as close together 

 as possible, frequently preening each other's feathers. The male bird 

 (I was sure of it by this time) would take a piece of meat and fly up 



