580 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NEW JERSEY. 



lands. They feed upon mice, and also capture birds while roost- 

 ing. They have been known to kill chickens, but such is seldom 

 the case." 



A. accipitrinus, Pall. Short-eared Owl. 



Ear tufts small ; two outer primaries emarginate (o?ie only in 

 preceding) ; ground color tawny to buffy, striped, but not barred, 

 with brown ; face blackish around eyes, eyebrows whitish. 

 Length, 15 inches; tail, 6 inches. Nest on ground. 



" Unlike the preceding species, the ' short-eared owl ' appears 

 to be found about meadow lands, preying upon the mice gener- 

 ally there so abundant. They fly in broad daylight with apparent 

 ease when disturbed. Not offensive to the agriculturist." 



SYRNIUM, Savig. 



S. nebulosum, Forst. Barred Owl. Swamp Owl. 



Bill yellow ; no evident ear tufts ; iris black ; toes not con- 

 cealed; color olive brown, barred with white above; breast barred 

 and belly streaked. Length, 30 inches; tail, 12 inches. 



" Better known as the * swamp owl.' This species is more 

 abundant in Cape May county than elsewhere within the limits 

 of the State. Shy, and seldom approaches barnyards or poultry- 

 roosts. The nest is in a hollow tree, generally at a considerable 

 height. Mice are their principal food." 



SCOTIAPEX, Swains. 



S. cinereum, Gmel. Great Gray Owl. 



Iris yellow ; six outer primaries emarginate ; toes concealed by 

 long feathers ; ashy brown above, waved with white ; breast 

 streaked, belly barred. Length, 30 inches; tail, 12 inches. 



"A single specimen has been taken in Sussex county, in 

 December, 1859. Only a very rare visitor." 



NYCTALA, Brehm. 



N. acadica, Gmel. Saw-whet Owl. 



No ear tufts ; iris yellow ; nostrils prominent, neai'ly circular, 

 open anteriorly ; brown above, spotted with white ; white below. 



