312 BARRED OWL. 



Tersely banded aboTe the upper brenst, nml lonsitudinally striped below tliis, with dusliy-hrown. Under wing and tail cov- 

 erts, flanlis, tibia, and tarsus, reddish-yellow, the under tail coverts being striped with dusky and the tarsus uJxed withit. 

 The face is grayish-white barred with dusky and tlic edge of the facial disk is dark-brown. 



YouTiff. Birds in this stage are tinged with reddish-brown above, particularly on the white markings, while the same 

 color ]3ervadfb below. 



Nsstlings. Are covered with a yellow down. Iris, dark-brown, bill, yellow, cere, greenish, claws, horn color, m all 



stages. Sexes, .similar in color. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known from the preceding by the smaller size and yellowish tinging to tlie feathers, and froiu other species by 

 the colors as described. The wmgs and tail are, perhaps, more frequently barred witli yellowish than with lii'own. Sjjec- 

 imens from Florida are darker than those *'roin the Northern States and are strongly tinged with reddisli above and below, 

 while the toes of southern birds are quite destitute of feathers. Distributed, as a constant resident, thr(jugbout Eastern 

 North America. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measureuients of male specimens. Length, 19-00; stretch, 4 t'OO; wing, IS'iTO; tail, 8-00; bill, l-Sf); tarsus 

 S-00. Longest spe<h:ien, 2;)-00; greatest e.'cteut of wing, 45-00; longest wing, 11-00: tail, B-.50, 1)111, 1-45: tarsus, 2-25 

 Shortest specimen, 17-00; smallest extent of wing, 43-00; shortest wing, 12-50; tail, 7-00; bill, VH^r. f.u-sus, 1-90. 



Average measurements of female specimens. Length, 20-00; stretch, 45-25; wing, 14-00; tail,S.50; bill, 1-45: tarsus, 

 2-25. Lijtrnst sp3;"im;a, 21-00; graate-sl extent of wing, 4!i-0J; bng3st wia^, 14-50: tail, 0(10; bill, 1-50; t-arsus, 2-05. 

 Shortest specimen, 19-00; smallest extent of wing, 44-00; shortest wing, 13 25: tail, 7-50: bill, 1-35: tarsu-^, 2 00. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, ]ilacod in natural cavities of trees or on the branches. They are either remodeled on the old nests of other birds 

 or compo'-'-d ofstieks and twigs, lined with a scanty supply of leaves, etc. 



Sf/i"; ibrcp or four in number, rather oval in form, white in color, with the surface very smooth. Dimensions from 

 l-G0x2-0t ..o r 75 s 2-20. 



HABITS. 



I have placed tlie birds now under consideration, among the Hooting Owls and they 

 certainly proclaim their right to the title, most emphatically, for it would be difficult to 

 find more noisy Owls. They are not only noisy, uttering their notes very frequently, but 

 their cries are loud and are given with startling distinctne9s. A single prolongetl hoot 

 which is a preliminary to a series of lower sounds, is particularly noticeable, especiallv 

 when heard near at hand, being uttered with such a peculiai intonation as to suggest su- 

 pernatural origin; then, the notes which succeed the first outbreak, are so weird that they 

 iire not calculated to dispel the illusion, neither is a sight of the darlv gray birds flyinj^ 

 swiftly through the foliage on noiseless wings, at all reassuring for, in the dim twilight, 

 nothing could well appear more gh(i8tly to one who is inclined to believe in visitations 

 from the unknown world. How diflerent are the facts in this case from what a morbid fim- 

 cy pictures them. The outcry is but the call of an awakening Barred Owl to its mate for 

 whom he is seeking and for whose benefit he is singing his quaint love song as he goes. 

 Tc me the notes, although given iu a minor tone, are not even disagreeable, but then I 

 have a particular liking for Owls and ha.ve at different times, kept almost all of our native 

 species as pets. A pair of Barred Owls which I oace had were particular favorites as they 

 were very tame and notably gentle, never attempting to bite when I caressed them. They 

 would take food from my hand and VvOuJd frequently fly to meet me when I entered the 

 the room in which they were confined. The male was finally killed by a Great Horned 

 Owl ttfter whioh I gave the female her liberty, a favor which she doubtless appreciateil 



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