AMERICAN OBNITHOLOGY. 33 



BARN OWL. 



A. O. I'. No. 366. (Stiix pratiiicola.) 



RANGE. 



This species is foun 1 in a warmer portion of the United States from 

 the Gulf north on the Atlantic coast to southern New England, on the 

 Pacific to Oregon and in the interior to southern Minnesota. It is 

 only casually or accidently found north of these boundaries. They are 

 slightly migratory throughout their range, that is the birds in the south 

 go farther south while those from the north take their places. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Length 16 to 20 in. Eyes dark brown; a very pronounced and 

 lengthened facial disc. Above finely mottled with gray, buff and 

 white; below white, m.ore or less washed with buff and specked with 

 black. The young are more buffy below than are the adults. Facial 

 disc white tinged with buff and bordered with blackish brown. 



NEST AND EGGS. 



Barn Owls Owls are very indifferent as to their nesting sites. They 

 are equally well satisfied with the cavity of a dead tree, holes in banks, 

 deserted crows nests or even with a simple hollow on the ground. 

 When the opportunity occurs they will probably choose the hollow 

 tree. Many have also been found in barns and under sheds. In 

 various' sections' of the country they may be found nesting from ^Nlarch 

 to the end 'of June. There eggs are white, equally rounded at each 

 end and number from four to ten, usually about six or eight; size 1.75 

 X 1.30. 



HABITS. 



Owls of this genus are the oddest of the family; their queer faces and 

 expressions have caused them to receive the name of Monkey-faced 

 Owls. Their most noticable difference from other Owls is in the small 

 dark colored eyes, the distance from the eyes to the mouth, and the 

 long legs. All the Owls are more or less nocturnal but this species is 

 rather more so than the others; it is rarely seen moving about, in the 



