192 Bird Studies. 



The Barred Owl is perhaps the most frequently seen and heard of the 



larger owls, and in certain localities is an abundant bird. It is a large bird, 



generally more than twenty inches long, has a round 



Barred Owl. head, prominent and well defined facial discs, surround- 



Syrnium nebulosumiForst,).^ ^ 



ing dark-brown eyes having black pupils. In general ap- 

 pearance it is a magnified Saw-whet. Its prevailing color above is grayish 

 brown, the feathers being marked with two or more white or buffy white 

 bars on each one. The facial disc is gray with concentric rings of dusky 

 brown. 



The breast is barred much like the upper parts. The rest of the under 

 parts are grayish or buffy white striped broadly with dusky brown. The feet 

 are feathered to the tips of the toes. The tail has narrow bars of white, seven 

 or eight in number. The larger feathers of the wings are spotted w^ith white. 



The birds usually breed in hollows in trees but occasionally an old nest 

 of some large bird, hawk or crow, is used. From two to four white eggs 

 are laid. They are nearly two inches long and over an inch and three fifths 

 in their smaller diameter. 



The birds are found from north of Florida and the Gulf States, through- 

 out Eastern North America to Nova Scotia and Manitoba. They are resi- 

 dent except at the more northern parts indicated. 



In contradistinction to the deliberate zvho zvho zvhowho of the Great 

 Horned Owl, this bird has a variety of notes and is frequently heard 

 during the daytime, in the wilder parts of the country. These cries are 

 given with little or no interval and are emphatic. They are varied by 

 sounds that can only be likened to a demoniacal laugh, that is rung through 

 many changes. In their shrillness and high pitch these sounds have a singu- 

 larly weird and uncanny effect heard on moonlight nights in some lonely 

 camp. 



The birds are great hunters and destroyers of the smaller rodents, and 

 frogs and lizards figure in their diet. The destruction of such petty devasta- 

 tors amply repays and much more than offsets the occasional fowl or small 

 bird killed by these owls. 



The Florida Barred Owl is a geographical race of the bird just described 



^. . . „ . ^ , and is similar in appearance, but smaller and darker col- 

 Florida Barred Owl. , , . ,, , z ., ^ y // j- w j i 



„ . ored, and has the toes but partially feathered or nearly 



Syrnium nebulosum atleni r y J y 



R'<'B"'- naked. 



