KEYES AND WILLIAMS BIRDS OF IOWA. I 29 



hawk or crow. A nest found on April 15, 1882, was situated in a 

 small tree in a deep ravine, and was supported only by a few 

 small twigs, at a height of about twenty feet ; it contained five 

 slightly incubated eggs. The female was on the nest when discovered, 

 but quietly glided away when the tree was struck with a stick. On the 

 29th of the same month, two more nests were discovered, and a few 

 days later, another. The first of these three nests was placed about 

 fifteen feet from the ground, in the top of a small oak, and contained 

 three fresh eggs. The second nest contained four newly -hatched 

 young and two eggs nearly incubated ; there were, within thirty yards 

 of this nest, a crow's nest with young, and a nest of Cooper's hawk 

 with three eggs. The manceuvers of the parent owls were quite com- 

 ical. When the ascent to the nest commenced both birds tumbled to 

 the ground feigning injury, and began a series of very plaintive notes, 

 somewhat similar to the whining of young kittens; at the same time 

 their wings were expanded around the body, and a furious snapping of 

 the beaks indulged in — a characteristic exhibited by the young of both 

 this species, the great horned and other owls, even before they leave 

 the nest. The nest found May 3d, contained four young, nearly fledged. 

 A week later, all with the exception of one had left the nest. A 

 number of nests of this species examined recently each contained five 

 eggs, which would seem to be the usual number. 



At Charles City, a long-eared owl was picked up on the prairie, sev- 

 eral miles from any woods; it was not injured, yet allowed itself to be 

 taken with the hand. 



[B 52, R 396, C 473, U 367.] 



Asia accipitrinus (Pall). Short-eared Owl. Resident; rather com- 

 mon. Usually noticed flying over fields and marshy meadows in 

 search of food. During the winter they often resort to woodland. 

 Nests in May on open prairie. 



Genus SYRNIUM Savig.ny. 



[B 54, R 397< C 476, U 368.] 

 Syrnium nebulosum (Forst.). Barred Owl. Resident; common. 

 Frequents the heavy timber along the streams; nesting commences 

 about the middle of April. 



Genus NYCTALA Brehm. 

 [B 56, 57, R 401, C 4S3, U 37-] 

 Nyctala acadica (Gmel). Saw- whet Owl. Not common. Taken 

 occasionally in the autumn. 



[Proo. D. A. N. 8., Vol. V]. 17 [October 13, 1888.] 



