STRIGIDyE — THE OWLS. 



15 



Strix fiammea. 



In tlie vicinity of Philadelphia the Bam Owl is not very rare, but is 

 more common in spring ancl autunni than in the summer. Its nests have 

 been found in hollow trees near marshy meadows. Southward it is more or 

 less common as far as South 

 Carolina, where it becomes more 

 abundant, and its range then 

 extends south and west as far 

 as the Pacific. It is quite plenti- 

 ful in Texas and New Mexico, 

 and is one of the most abundant 

 birds of California. It was not 

 met with by Dr. Woodhouse in 

 the expedition to the Zufii Kiver, 

 but this may be attributed to the 

 desolate character of the country 

 through which he passed, as it is 

 chiefly found about habitations, 

 and is never met with in wooded 

 or wild regions. 



Dr. Heermann and Dr. Gambel, 

 who visited California before the present increase in population, speak of 

 its favorite resort as being in the neighborhood of the Missions, and of 

 its nestino- under the tiled roofs of the houses. The latter also refers to 

 his finding numbers under one roof, and states that they showed no fear 

 when approached. The propensity of the California bird to drink the sacred 

 oil from the consecrated lamps about the altars of the Missions was fre- 

 quently referred to by the priests, whenever any allusion was made to this 

 Owl. Dr. Gambel also found it about farm-houses, and occasionally in the 

 prairie valleys, where it obtains an abundance of food, such as mice and 

 other small animals. 



Dr. Heermann, in a subsequent visit to the State, mentions it as being a 

 very common bird in all parts of California. They were once quite numer- 

 ous among the hollow trees in the vicinity of Sacramento, but have 

 gradually disappeared, as their old haunts were one by one destroyed to 

 make way for the gradual development and growth of that city. Dr. Heer- 

 mann found a large number in the winter, sheltered during the day among 

 the reeds of Suisun Valley. They were still abundant in the old Catholic 

 Missions, where they frequented the ruined walls and towers, and constructed 

 their nests in the crevices and nooks of those once stately buildings, now 

 falling to decay. These ruins were also a shelter for innumerable bats, 

 re[)tiles, and vermin, which formed an additional attraction to the Owls. 



Dr. Cooper speaks of finding this Owl abundant throughout Southern 

 California, especially near the coast, and Dr. Newberry frequently met witli 

 it about .San Francisco, San Diego, and Monterey, where it was more com- 



