226 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



birds of prey are regai-ded as enemies by the sportsman, wlio allows 

 none to pass that come within his reach. 



A few remain in summer, and raise their young in Southern 

 Ontario, but the greater number pass on farther north. They are 

 tolerably common in Manitoba, and are also reported from Hudson's 

 Bay and Alaska. The examinations of the stomachs of this species 

 made by Dr. Fisher, show that its food consists mainly of field-mice 

 and shrews. It has been placerl in Class <; among those whose good 

 and evil habits are about equal. 



Genus SYRNIUM Savkjny. 

 8YRNIUM NEBULOSUM (Forst.). 



160. Barred Owl. (368) 



Above, cinereoiis-lnown, bailed with white, often tinged with fulvous ; 

 below, similar, paler, the mai-kings in bars on the breast, in streaks elsewhere ; 

 quills and tail feathers, barred with brown and M'hite, with an ashy or fulvous 

 tinge. Length, about 18 ; wing, 1.3-14 ; tail, !►. 



Hab. — Eastern United States, west to Minnesota and Texas, north to 

 Nova Scotia and Quebec. 



Nest, in a hollow tree, or in the deserted nest of a hawk or crow. 



Eggs, two to four, round, white. 



Along the southern boundary of Ontario tlie Barred Owl is Vjy no 

 means rare, but farther north I have not heard of it being ol;)served. 

 It does not occur west of the Rocky Mountains, but is very abundant 

 along the south Atlantic and Gulf States. It is occasionally seen 

 abroad by day, but at such times its sight seems to be rather uncer- 

 tain, so that the capture of the small animals on which it feeds is 

 accomplished during the hovirs of darkness. 



Regarding its uncertain vision by day, Mr'. Giraud, in his " Birds 

 of Long Island," says: "My friend, Mr. J. G. Bell, informs me that 

 when on a collecting tour in South Carolina, and while looking for 

 the Blue-winged Yellow Warbler whose note he had a moment before 

 heard, he was startled by feeling a sudden pressure on his gun. 

 Judge of his surprise when he perceived perched on the barrels a 

 Barred Owl, which, at the same moment, discovered its mistake, 

 but too late to correct the fatal error, as it was shot down by the 

 astonished gunner.' 



Audubon mentions seeing; one alis^ht on the back of a cow, which 



