258 STIX ril.\TINCOLA — THE BARN OWL. 



vifiitor to the barnyard. It is not likely that it breeds in 

 this State. 



The following- description is taken from Cassin's Birds 

 of California., <&c.: 



"Large; head very large; eyes small ; tail long. Adult — 

 Entile upper parts smoky brown; neaily everj' I'eaiher 

 more or less mottled and transversely baired with ashy 

 white; under jjarts smoky brown; feathers on the breast 

 edged wilh ashy white, and on the abdomen edged and 

 transversely barred with ashy white, with wide longitu- 

 dinal stripes of smoky brown; legs brown, with numerous 

 ashy white transverse stripes; quills brown, with about 

 five wide irregular bands of ashy white, which bands are 

 mottled with biown; throat black; discal feathers on the 

 neck tipped with yellowish white; eye nearly encircled 

 by a black si)ot; radiating feathers around the eye with 

 irregular transverse narrow bars of dark brown and ashy 

 white; bill pale yellow; claws pale, and dark at their tips. 

 Sexes alike. 



'•''Dimensions. — Female, total length 26 inches; wing 18 

 inches; tail 12 inches." 



Stkix Pkatincola, Bonaparte. — The Barn Owl. 



The Barn Owl will probably be found resident in Ohio, 

 but as yet we do not know of a s^ ecimen being seen within 

 its limits. It is found as far north as Vermont and Wiscon- 

 sin, and is plentiful in the Southern States, occurring in 

 Kentucky, Illinois and Pennsylvania. Its color is a pale 

 fawn, or tawny brownish yellow. Some are nearly white, 

 and it measures about 16 inches in length. This species 

 should be encouraged, as it is beneficial to the farmer by 

 killing rats and mice, upon which it principally feeds. 



