FAMILY Bubonide. 
ORDER RAPTORES. PREYING. BIRDS, 
Family Bubonide. OWLS. 
This family includes a great number of species about 
twenty of which inhabit North America. Of these the 
Great Horned Owl, the Barred Owl, and the Screech - 
Owl furnish the most representative differences of type, 
if not of voice. The syllables of the Barred Owl, ac- 
cording to Mr. Chapman (and my own observations have 
led to a similar conclusion), are, whoo-whoo-whoo, who- 
hoo, to-whoo-ah. The difference between this hoot and 
that of the Great Horned Owl, whose record follows, is 
apparent at a glance, but there is also a rising inflection 
to the voice of the Barred Owl, which is a better point 
of discrimination. Farther than this, from a musical 
standpoint, it seems unnecessary to go, as Owls can 
scarcely be classed among the song-birds. They are rap- 
torial, and their voices convey to the ear a very tolerable 
idea of their character. 
The Owl’s eye is fixed in its socket ; as a consequence 
the head turns around as though it were fixed upon a 
pivot. I imagine the Owl is therefore a perfect example 
of what, according to current slang, is termed the rubber 
neck ! 
Screech Owl It is an open question how many birds 
Megascops asio one is justified in including among the so- 
moe ee called singers. Certainly the Screech Owl 
is not on the ‘‘ prohibitive” list of song- 
birds issued under the laws of the State. But to one 
who studies bird-music there can be little doubt about 
the Screech Owl; he deserves an important position 
among the soloists, the quivering tremolo of his remark- 
able voice has in it the very essence of music, the ex- 
pression of ‘‘ thoughts too deep for words” embodied in 
tones of deepest mystery, for whether these tones are 
properly described as dulcet or blood-curdling is alto- 
gether a matter of opinion dependent upon the listener’s 
state of mind. 
The colors of the Screech Owl are a mixture of mottled 
brown, chestnut, ash-gray, black and ochre, on a graye 
To 
