STKIGIDJi. — SCOTS ASIO. 65 



New Jersey, states that the nest was generally constructed in the fork of a tall tree, 

 but adds that they sometimes choose a smaller tree. 



These birds begin to construct theu- nest towards the close of winter, and, even 

 in the Arctic regions. Sir John Eichardson speaks of their hatching their eggs as 

 early as March. The shape of the egg is very nearly exactly spherical, and its 

 color is a dull white with a slightly yellowish tinge. An egg formerly in the old 

 Peale's Museum of Philadelphia, taken m New Jersey by Alexander Wilson, the 

 ornithologist, and bearing his autograph upon its shell, measures 2j'^g inches in 

 length by 2 in breadth. Another, obtained in the vicinity of Salem, Mass., meas- 

 ures 2^% inches in length by 1^| in breadth. In the latter instance the nest was 

 constructed on a tall and inaccessible tree, in a somewhat exposed locahty. The 

 female was shot on the nest, and as she fell, she clutched one of the eggs in a convul- 

 sive grasp, and brought it in her claws to the ground. Mr. Cassin states that the 

 southern varieties are also different in their size, being smaller than the more north- 

 ern. This is true also of their eggs. One obtained in Tamaulipas, Mexico, near 

 the Rio Grande, measures 2y\ inches in length by 1{| in breadth. This egg is 

 one of the Berlandier collection, now in the possession of the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion, and is the one represented in the plate (Plate IV, fig. 39). 



SCOPS ASIO. 



Strix asio, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 132. 

 « " Wilson, Am. Orn. V, 1812, 83, pi. xlii, fig. 1. 

 " " BoNAP. Syn. 1828, p. 36. 



" " AtiD. Orn. Biog. I, 1832, 486 ; V, 392 ; pi. .\cvii. 

 " " NuTTALL, Manual, I, 1832, 120. 

 Strix nmvia, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 289. 



" Wilson, Am. Orn. Ill, 1812, 16, pi. xix. fig. 1. 

 Buio striatus, Vieill. Ois d' Am.' Sept. I, 1807, 54, pi. 21. 

 Scops asio, BoNAP. Geog. and Comp. List, 1838, p. 6. 



" " Cassin, Syn. N. A. Birds (Illust. Birds of Cal.), 1854, p. 179. 

 Bubo asio, Aud. Syn. 1839, p. 29. 



" " Birds of Am. I, 1840, 147, pi. xl. 

 " De Kay, Nat. Hist. New York, 1844, pi. xli, figs. 25 and 26. 

 Hibou asio, Temm. PI. Col. pi. Ixxx. 



VuLG. — The Mottled Owl. The Red Owl. Little Screech-Owl. Little Owl. Screech-Owl. 

 Little Cat-Old. 



The little Eed or Mottled Owl is a very widely distributed bird. It is found 

 in Greenland, and probably in all parts of North America. Sir John Richardson 

 did not, however, meet with it in the Arctic regions. It is much more abundant 

 in some jjarts of the continent than in others. It is quite common throughout New 

 England, as well as in the Middle and some of the Southern States. Mr. Audubon 

 9 



