ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 169 
BARN OWL, 
The American Barn Owl ranges over almost the whole of the 
United States and Mexico, but does not nest north of Long Island, 
Nebraska and California. It is one of the most nocturnal of the 
owls, and is seldom seen by day. If by chance one is caught in 
the daylight, it seems almost too dazed to fly, and with eye-lids 
shut to narrowest slits, it waits patiently for the relief of twilight. 
Its utterances are varied. The most startling is a wild, high 
scream—cr-r-r-ee !, but in its nest it utters a snoring sound with its 
beak closed, and hisses when disturbed. I have known this owl. 
when flying about at twilight, to click its beak repeatedly, perhaps 
as a signal to its mate, as it was not feeding upon insects at 
the time. 
It is difficult to define the nesting site of a barn owl. It may 
