50 1 

 NYCTEINIDM. '^^ '■ 



The Long-cared Owls are more strictly nocturnal than the preceding species, flying 

 almost entirely by uight when they move with a steady, though swift, flight, not f;ir above 

 the ground, pausing occasionally to pounce upon some unfortunate mouse which, careless 

 of its safety, is taking a moonlight ramble. When hunting, these Owls are silent and I 

 cannot definitely recall an instance when I have heard either the Long or Short-eared Owls 

 utter a note but am under the impression that I have heard the former give a single cry 

 during the breeding season. It is highly probable, however, that botli species have a 

 characteristic call as well as a love song, for the larynx is similar to that of other Owls but 

 none of the order have these muscles so highly developed as to produce any great variety 

 of modulated sounds. 



According to authors, the Long-eared Owls occasionally place their nests in low bush- 

 es or even on the ground but instances of this kind are doubtless not common for, judging 

 from the cases which have come to my knowledge, their domiciles are constructed in trees, 

 often in dense swamps. Wilson mentions finding the nests of this species in a swampy 

 thicket which was occupied as a breeding place by Night Herons. They appear to have a 

 fondness for similar places and I know of four or five nests which have been taken from a 

 heromy near West Newton during different years. The time of laying in Massachusetts 

 is during the last week in April or first week in May, earlier in the South and later further 

 north for I find in my note-book a record of a nest taken at Grand iNIenan on the twenty- 

 second of May. 



The Long-cared Owls are not apparently as common as the preceding species but this 

 may be due to the fact that they are more retiring in habits, thus escaping observation and 

 it is highly probable that many more inhabit a given section than one would suppose, judg- 

 ing from the few specimens actually seen or taken. I have met with them much less fre- 

 quently of late years than formerly but this may be the result of accident or they may be 

 .Iriven away by the thinning of the forests; yet I scarcely think this can be a fact, for the 

 Mottled Owl which would be affected by the same cause, is as abundant as ever. The 

 Long-eared Owls are not apparently migratory being found with us throughout the entire 

 year. 



FAMILY IV. NTCTEINID^. THE ARCTIC OWLS. 



Sternum, quite emarginate. Marginal indentations , four , not wide but the outer is very 

 deep. Tarsus, very short. Feet, large. Eyes, large. Facial disk, not perfect. Ear tufts, 

 wanting. 



The sternum is short and well arched, with the top of the keel well rounded. The 

 outer marginal indentations are more than twice as deep as the inner. The feet are large 

 and densely feathered to the toes. . The head is not large but rounded. The size is large 

 with a robust form. The bill is strong and quite long. The plumage is full, downy, and 

 long. The wings and tuil are quite long but well proportioned. The predominating col- 

 or is white. 



