Wayne: Birds of South Carolina. 81 



Knowing quite as much about the owls as he [Mr. White] does, through the 

 children, who have always been interested in them, I will state that there were 

 young owls there [in the old mill] a month ago. 



A set comprising six eggs was taken September 19, 1907, at 

 Bossis, by Master Thomas Porcher White, son of Mr. J. St. Clair 

 White, to whom much credit is due, for he watched the old barn 

 faithfully with the hope of finally ascertaining the month in which 

 the first eggs are laid, as this species undoubtedly rears two broods 

 each year. Of the set of six eggs sent to me, one contained a 

 very large embryo, another one about half developed, while the 

 others were in various stages of incubation, proving conclusively 

 that they are deposited at irregular intervals. The eggs are said 

 to number from five to eleven, and are pure white, measuring 

 1.75X1.30. 



This species, sometimes known as the Monkey-faced Owl, seems 

 to prefer sombre live oak groves, where I have seen it chiefly 

 in the spring and early autumn. 



FAMILY STRIGIDtE: HORNED OWLS, ETC. 



149. Asio wilsonianus (Less.). Long-eared Owl. 

 Audubon says of this species in Birds of America' that: "my 



friend Dr. Bachman has never observed it in South Carolina." 



I have met with this species only on one occasion, March 16, 

 1896, when two specimens were secured near Mount Pleasant, 

 while one taken in Edgefield county in the winter of 1905, and 

 another shot near Mount Pleasant, January 16, 1906, are the only 

 other specimens I have ever seen. 



Although the Long-eared Owl is said to breed throughout its 

 range, it certainly does not do so anywhere near the coast and I 

 doubt if it breeds in any portion of the State, being simply a 

 winter visitant. 



150. Asio flammeus (Pont.). Short-eared Owl. 



The Short-eared Owl is found locally in late autumn, winter, and 

 early spring. It seems to have a predilection for certain coast 

 islands where there are miles of sandy wastes covered here and 

 there with wild oats and other maritime grasses, but without trees 

 or even bushes. As long as I can recall, one or two pairs of these 

 owls have wintered on Bull's Island. 



• I, 136. 



