BIRDS OF PREY. Owls 



of the stronger mammals, it does good service in killing 

 field-mice, beetles, etc., and only seems to eat birds in times 

 of famine. 



I have never seen but one Saw-whet in this neighbour- 

 hood, though I have heard their cry many times. This 

 one was found dead after a severe autumn storm in a 

 beech wood; its wings were broken, and it had evidently 

 died from starvation. This poor little Owl is destroyed 

 in great numbers for decorative purposes, and is thus famil- 

 iar to many people who have never seen it alive. It is 

 the bird that sits in a pensive attitude on a gilt crescent 

 moon, in the taxidermist's window, or yields its pretty 

 head to do duty as a rosette on my lady's hat. 



Screech Owl: Megascops asio. 



Little Horned Owl. 



Plate 53. 



Length : 8-10 inches. 



Male and Female: Conspicuous ear tufts. Bill light horn colour. 



Two distinct phases of plumage belong to this species, having. 



as Dr. Fisher says, "no relation to sex, age, or season." In 



one state the Owl is mottled grayish and black, and the other 



rust- red. Feet covered with short feathers ; claws dark. 

 Note: A hissing alarm note, — "Shay-shay-shay!" and a moaning, 



quavering wail, which is not loud, but penetrating. 

 Season : Common resident. 



Breeds : Through range ; in April and early May. 

 Nest : In hollow trees ; sometimes in orchards, near dwellings, and on 



wood borders. 

 Eggs : 4-6, almost spherical. 

 Bange : Temperate eastern North America, south to Georgia, and 



west to the Plains. Accidental in England. 



It would be difficult to identify the Screech Owl by a de- 

 scription of its colour alone, for it goes through many 

 different colour changes without regular rotation, passing 

 from shades of wood-brown, hazel, tawny, rust-red, to gray 

 and almost black, and vice versa. Plate IX., Figs. 7 and 8 

 show its most conspicuous conditions, and all the novice can 



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