[63] 



Columbia it is occasionally seen flying over the marshes and that 

 some years ago a family of Barn Ov/ls were destroyed in one of 

 towers of the Smithsonian Institution (Field and Forest Vol. Ill, 

 p. 51). Two of the eggs taken from that building are in the 

 collection of the National Museum (The Auk, Vol. V, p. 20). 

 I have seen the skin of a specimen shot in Albemarle County, 

 December, 1889. Mr. Doan says he found it common in some of 

 the mountain districts of West Virginia. 



136. Asio wilsonianus. Long-eaked Owi,. — Resident, 

 but seldom seen. It is reported to be more abundant than the 

 Great Horned Owl, less so than the Screech Owl in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Washington, where, on the authority of Mr. Hen- 

 shaw, it breeds. It has been met with in Virginia by Lieutenant 

 Wirt Robinson and I have known of one or more having been 

 caught in a trap in Albemarle County in the winter of 1887-S. 

 It has lieen said to occur in West Virginia. 



137. Asio accipitrinus. Shokt-eared Owl. — Rather 

 common resident in Tidewater Virginia. Commonin the vicinity 

 of Washington, except in summer, along the shores of the Potomac, 

 and has been taken in the streets of the city. Not uncommon at 

 Cobb's Island, where it is usually met with inautumnand winter. 

 It has also been observed in Virgmia by Lieutenant Robinson. 

 Mr. Doan gives it as a West Virginia species. 



138. Syrnium nebulosum. Barred Owl. — A not com- 

 mon resident. Mr. Freke, however, reports it as lather a com- 

 mon species in Amelia County, and says he has often sat near a 

 tree on which the young were perched and watched the proceed- 

 ings of the parents. One individual was noted by Mr. W. D. 

 Scott in 1872 near Coalburg, West Virginia, flying low at dusk 

 over the Kanawha River. Mr. Richmond refers to its breeding in 

 Maryland and Virginia (The Auk, Vol. V, p. 20), and Lieuten- 

 ant Robinson has met with it. According to Dr. J. R. Mathers 

 and Mr. E. A. Brooks it is found in Upshur County, West Vir- 

 ginia. 



139. Nyctala acadica. Saw-whet Owl. — Rare. Captain 

 C. H. Crumb writes, '■' Two have been taken on Cobb's Island 

 within the last few years. A resident on the mainland." Several 

 have been found near Washington (The Auk, Vol. I, p. 397), 



