we 
THE MOTTLED OWL. 65 
“ Young. — Entire plumage transversely striped with ashy-white and pale-brown; 
wings and tail pale-rufous. 
“ Total length, nine and a half to ten inches; wing, seven; tail, three and a half 
inches. Sexes nearly alike in size and color. 
“The stages of plumage described above have been regarded as characterizing 
distinct species; and they do present a problem scarcely to be considered as fully 
solyed. This bird pairs and rears young while in the red plumage; and it is not 
unusual to find a mottled male and red female associated, or the reverse.’”’ — Joun 
CASSIN. 
As with many of the other birds of prey, the different 
plumages in which this owl is taken have caused great con- 
-fusion ; and, as Mr. Cassin truly remarks, the matter is not 
yet settled beyond doubt. The . 
observation has generally been, 
that the young birds are in the 
red plumage; but I have cer- 
tainly known of one instance 
when the young bird was in 
the gray. A nest was found 
in a hollow tree in Milton, 
Mass., in which there were 
three young birds. They were 
permitted to remain; and I vis 
ited the nest as often as every 
two days until they flew off. 
The last time that I saw them, * 
—the day before they left the 
nest, — they were fully fledged, and they had very few marks 
of brownish-red in their plumage. Whether this was an 
exceptional case, I know not; but I will present the obser- 
vations of different ornithologists which conflict with my 
own. I will also quote Audubon’s description of the habits 
of the bird, as itis better than I can give from my own 
experience, though it corresponds to my observations so far 
as they go. He says, — 
“The flight of the Mottled Owl is smooth, rapid, protracted, and 
noiseless. It rises at times above the top branches of the highest 
of our forest trees whilst in pursuit of large beetles ; and at other 
‘ 5 
