252 NYCTALE ACADIA — SAW WHET — ACADIAN OWL. 



as it abounds in its summer haunts, where it is undisturbed 

 and raises its young in perfect safety from the unwelcome 

 visits of bird-nesting school boys. 



Its feathers are a pure white, with spots of dark brown. 

 The specimens vary greatly, some being almost entirely 

 white, while others are thickly spotted and barred wilh 

 the dark brown. Quills and tail are regularly banded with 

 brown. All are beautiful birds, and cannot be mistaken 

 for any other species. 



The female is, as usual, larger than the male, and measures 

 from 24 to 26 inches in length, the tail being 10 inches. 



Several specimens in the Museum of the Cleveland Acad- 

 emy of Natural Science, and in the private cabinets of Prof. 

 Kirtland and others. 



Genus Nyctale, Brehm. 



Small size; large head; without visible ear tufts; bill of 

 moderate size, and nearly covered with feathers; disc 

 nearly complete; tarsi and toes short, and fully feathered; 

 wings moderate or long; tail short. 



Nyctale Acadia, Omelin. — Saw Whet — Acadian Owl. 



Wilson's Amer. Orn., IV., pi. 34, fig. 1; Audubon's B. of 

 Am., Oct. ed., I., pi. 33. 



A pretty little owl, and the smallest species of the family 

 that inhabits Ohio. It is not plentiful with us, but may 

 occasionally be found. Audubon descril)es this owl as 

 often visiting cities, for what purpose seems not known. 



