SYRNIUM NEBULOSUM — THE BARRED OWL. 255 



the head, and the white markings on the head and body 

 varying somewhat in diil'erent specimens. 



^'•Dimensions. — Fem le, total length, 16 to 17 inches; 

 wing 9 and tail 7 inches. Male smaller." 



Genus Syrnium, Savigny. 



Head large, and without ear tufts; facial disc almost 

 perfect; bill strong, and curved from the base; broad at 

 base, and re-curved at tip; wings long, with the I'ourth and 

 fifth quills longest; tail broad, rounded and long; tarsi 

 rather short, and with the toes densely covered with feath- 

 ers; claws long, curved and sharp. 



Syrnium Nebulosum, Forstei-. — The Round Headed, or 

 Barred Owl. 



Audubon's Birds of America, Octavo edition, I., plate 36. 



Probably the most common species in Ohio. In the 

 neighborhood of Cleveland it is abundant during the whole 

 year. It inhabits the woods, and, if surprised during the 

 day, it will fly o(f a short distance to the branch of some 

 neighboring tree, where it will perch, and generally wait 

 until shot at. 



During the day it is the most awkward of its family, and 

 the saying of ''solemn as an owl" will occur to any one 

 who sees it. Night, however, puts greater energy into it, 

 and the dull unmeaning look becomes wonderfully changed. 

 It feeds on squirrels, rats, mice, small birds and chickens, 

 and prefers living in the woods. We have seen it, however, 

 flying during moonlight over the principal streets of Cleve- 

 land, probably in pursuit of rats. These owls have the bad 

 habit of visiting the barn yard, and attacking the young 



