Bird Life of North Dakota 43 



133. Falco sparverius phalaetia (Lesson). Desert Sparrow Hawk. 

 There is a specimen in the WilHams Collection, taken at Grafton, May 



12, 1907. One of my specimens, an adult female taken at Devils Lake, 

 May 10, 1921, is referred to this form. 



134. Pandion haliactus carolinensi's (Gmelin). Osprey. 



JuDD, 1917. p. 18; rare, one seen at Snyder Lake, Towner County, April 24, and 

 again on May 28. 1895. 



This species was not seen in the field, but Mr. Williams told me that he 

 saw one which was shot at Niagara, Grand Forks County, on September 25, 



1920, and another at Grafton, April, 1921, 



135. Ahico pratincola (Bonaparte). Barn Owl. 



This seems to be a very rare species in North Dakota, It was not 

 observed in the field. Mr. Alfred Eastgate has a record for Grand Forks, 

 November, 1891. There is a mounted specimen in the Williams Collection 

 taken at Oakes, Dickey County, September i, 1912. Mr. J. D. Allen, of 

 Mandan. has mounted a bird collected in Stutsman County, September 7, 



192 1, by Eddie Schutt, and two from Hebron, Morton County, taken Sep- 

 tember 6, 192 1, by Joe Wagenhopper. 



136. Asio wilsonianus (Lesson). Long-eared Owl. 



Ai,LEN, 1875, P- 64; occasional, two specimens obtained. Judd, 1917, p. 18; not 

 common; one nest found May 25, 1895, in bushes along- Big Coulee in the northern 

 part of the county. BailEy, 1919, p. 227 ; family of three-quarter grown specimens 

 on Sweetwater Lake on August 17, 1917. 



A nest of this species was found at Hay Creek, near Bismarck, on May 

 22, 192 1, by Russell Reid (see photograph). 



A mounted specimen without data is in the Biological Station Museum. 

 It was probably taken near Devils Lake. I saw, in a deep draw near Medora, 

 a female with three young and an unhatched egg in an old magpie's nest 

 built in a thicket of trees. On June 19 the oldest of these young was one- 

 half grown, the next was much smaller, while the youngest was only about 

 half as large as the oldest. This is a very beneficial species, feeding almost 

 entirely on mice and small mammals injurious to the farm crops. 



137. Asio flammcns (Pontoppidan). Short-eared Owl. 



Allen, 1875, p. 64; apparently the most common of the owls. Larsox. 1913, p. 94; 

 occasionally seen; could be found almost anywhere in McKenzie County in the winter 

 of 1912-13. Bailey, 1915, p. 174; saw a number flying about in the daytime, July 8 

 and 9, 1912, between Stump and Devils Inkes. Judd, 1917, p. 18; common summer 

 resident, usually arrives third week in April ; full set of eggs was found May 18. 



This owl is, no doubt, the mos^ common one in North Dakota. Mounted 

 specimens are in all the state collections. I found one. May 26, 1921, in a 

 marsh at the north end of Creel Bay, and at Bottineau, July 11, saw a num- 

 ber in the road after dark. This species destroys immense numbers of 

 small mammals injurious to the farm crops and, like the two preceding 

 species, should always be protected. 



