BIRDS OF PREY 



368b. Texas Barred Owl. 

 Stria; varia albogilva. 



Range. — Southern Texas. 



A very similar but slightly paler variety than 

 the Barred Owl, and with the toes bare, as in 



ill It in. Eggs indistinguishable. 



369. Spotted Owl. 

 dentalis. 



Strix occidentalis occi- 



Range. — Western United States, from south- 

 ern Oregon and Colorado, southward. 



Similar to the Barred Owl, but spotted, in- 

 stead of barred, on the back of head and neck, 

 and much more extensively barred on the under 

 parts. The nesting habits do not appear to 

 differ in any respect from those of the eastern 

 Barred Owl, and their eggs, which are from two 

 to four in number, can not be distinguished 

 from those of the latter species; size 2.05 x 1.80. 



Great Gray Owl 



369a. Northern Spotted Owl. Strix occidentalis caurina. 



Range. — Northwestern United States and British Columbia. 

 Similar to the preceding, but darker, both above and below; nesting the same, 

 in hollow trees or in old Hawk's or Crow's nests. Eggs not distinguishable. 



.'!7 ( ». Great Gray Owl. 



Scotiaptex nebulosa. 



Range. — Northern North America; 

 wintering regularly south to the north 

 ern border of the United States and 

 casually farther. 



This is the largest of American Owls, 

 being about 26 inches in length; it 

 does not weigli nearly as much, how 

 ever, as the Great Horned or Snowy 

 Owls, its plumage being very light 

 and fluffy, and dark gray in color. 

 mottled with white. The facial disc is 

 very larj;e. and the eyes are small and 

 yellow, while those of the Barred <>ul 

 are large and blue black. They nest in 

 heavily wooded districts, building 

 their nests of sticks, chiefly in pine 

 trpes. The two to four white eggs are laid during Maj and Jum -> ■• 2.16x1.70. 



!> 



White 





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TT 



231 



