STRIGIDiE. — STRIX PRATINCOLA. 63 



probably also the same as that of Jamaica, is not so readily distinguished. Mr. 

 Gosse, in his " Birds of Jamaica," regards it as identical. As that writer had sev- 

 eral good opportunities of observing the breeding habits of the Jamaica Barn Owl, 

 I shall adopt his account, as in all probability essentially agreeing with that of our 

 own bird. He found the breeding-place of this Owl at the bottom of a deep lime- 

 stone pit. In the middle of October there was one young bird with several eggs. 

 There was not the least vestige of a nest ; the bird reposed on a mass of half-digested 

 hair mingled with bones. At a little distance Avere three eggs. They were not col- 

 lected for sitting, as no one of them was within six inches of another. On the 12th 

 of the next month he found in the same place the old bird sitting on four eggs, this 

 time placed close together. There was still no nest. The eggs were advanced to- 

 wards hatching, but in very different degrees, and an egg ready for deposition was 

 found in the oviduct of the old bird. He speaks of these eggs as differing in no 

 wise, except in size, from those of the common Hen. The size he does not give. 



An egg taken in Louisiana by Dr. Trudeau, and of which I have an accurate 

 drawing, measures Ijl inches in length, by l^"- in breadth. Another, obtained in 

 New Mexico, measures l^i by l^*g. Its color is a dirty yellowish- white, without 

 any spots. Its shape is an oblong oval, hardly more pointed at the smaller than at 

 the larger end. An egg of the Strix Jlammea, from France, measures l^-^g inches by 

 lj\. Another, from Africa, given me as that of the Barn Owl of that region, is 

 much larger than any of the above, measuring li| inches in length by 1^^ in 

 breadth. The last two are undoubtedly different species from our corresponding 

 variety. 



