84 



THE OOLOGIS'J'. 



it is built iipou |^lo\v bushes, or iu thick 

 tufts of grass, iu which latter case the 

 \veeiis aud grass are sometimes drawu 

 together above the uest almost conceal- 

 ing it. 



In this viciuity the eggs are as a rule 

 deposited during the third week of 

 May, although I liud records in my note 

 book of a set of three, partly incubated, 

 which I took from a Ijog near here, on- 

 June 9 ISyu, aud my friend J S. Square 

 has a set of four — incubation fresh, 

 which he took June 15th of the same 

 year,— and within thirty yards of the 

 precise spot where I took mine. This 

 seems a strange occurrence, consider- 

 ing the solitary aud unsociable habits of 

 the bird. They measure l.liO to 2.00 

 long by 1.50 broad. and are usually four 

 in number, but sets of 5 ai"e very often, 

 aud sets of 3 sometimes taken. The 

 sets of three, I might add, can usually 

 be traced to the hands of a collector, 

 who was unfortunate iu not having dis- 

 covered the nest a day or two later, or 

 who had au accident before he got his 

 set safely lodged iu his cabinet. 



A set also frequently show's great 

 differences in incubation, the last de- 

 posited blowing fresh, while the first 

 will give some trouble in saving it. 

 The female sets very close, and will 

 almost allow herself to be trod upon 

 before rising. I have one iu my col- 

 lection which I pulled olf the nest Aviih 

 my hands, and carried home uuder my 

 arm It sliowed consul.erable pugnacity 

 while on the nest, ruffling its feahers. 

 like a setting hen. aud hissing after. the 

 manner of a vulgar barnyard goose, 

 but unlike them she used her strong 

 hard beak so elt'ectively. that I don't 

 care to capture any more Thunder 

 Pumps, that are not liors-de-combut. 

 F. Baker. 

 Stratford, Out. 



Barred Owl in a neighboring woods,. 

 anuu«iiig himself, apparently at your 

 expense, with his laughing, mocking, 

 inquisitive ''who, who"} ivho. whoi who. 



The Barred Owl. 



Who has not been startled on a sum- 

 mer night by the unexpected cry of a 



(ire i/onV 



At nightfall and early davvu these 

 owls can be heard, during the breediug 

 season, in nearly every deep woods iu 

 the United States, east of the Rocky 

 mountains. From the amount of noise 

 which they make, one thinks them very 

 common and wonder why he so seldom, 

 sees one of them. The reason is plain. 

 The bird is one of the shyest of the 

 large owls, and keeps him.seif well out 

 of the sight of man. .At the approach 

 of day he betakes himself to some hol- 

 low ti'ee, there to remain in a half stu- 

 por until night's giay mantle etfecf- 

 ually conceals his noiseless tiight. If 

 one climbs to his retreat, as I h ave 

 frequently done, he will blink his big 

 dark eyes, aud snap his bill in a way 

 which defies further intrusion. 



This bird is "often mistaken hy the 

 casual observer for the Great Horned 

 Owl, Yet the distinction between the 

 two is very marked. The Barred Owl 

 is not quite so large as the Great Horn- 

 ed, has a much lighter plumage aud a 

 round head iu counter distinction to 

 the large tufts or horns of his relative. 

 But in flight the two are very similar 

 aud can scarcely be distinguished un- 

 less very near the observer. 



It is during the breeding season that 

 we have the best opportunity for study- 

 ing the habits of the Barred Owl. The 

 nesting habits of the bird are simiia,!' to. 

 those of many of his relatives. For his. 

 hoiiie he generally selects a cavity in 

 some secluded tree, although he is said 

 to occasionally appropriate a deserted 

 hawk's nest. I am inclined to think 

 that only the want of a suitable cavity 

 forces hnu to occupy au artiricial well- 

 ing. I have found him nesting in 

 trees of every description, always in 

 cavities ranging from ten to sixty feet 

 from the ground. The only requisites. 



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