178 Birds of Xokth Carolina 



resident in North Carolina, as it is known to breed to the north and south of us. 

 Pearson found a nest with four eRRs in a rice mill on Cat Island, South Carolina, 

 April 1, 1907 (Auk, Vol. 25, p. 310). 



The food of this owl consists almost entirely of various rats and mice, as well 

 as other small animals, and much more rarely of small birds. In common with other 

 owls, it hunts at night and its flight is noiseless, thus enabhng it to approach its 

 prey with ease. 



It nests in hollow trees, the belfries of churches, seldom used towers, and in 

 similar places. The eggs are pmv white, umnarked, and are usually from five to 

 seven in number. 



This is a most interesting and harmless owl, and deserves to be protected on 

 account of its services in destroying rats and mice; instead of which it is usually 

 shot on sight as a curiosity. 



34. FAMILY STRIGID/E. OWLS 



This family contains most of the owls. The rc])rcseutatives possess large, round 

 heads, with comparatively short faces, surrounded by a more or less complete disk 

 of radiating feath(n-s. Most of the species are strictly nocturnal, though a few 

 hunt their prey in the daytime. 



KEY TO t;EXER.\ 



1. Eye in the center of a nearly complete circular tlisk of feathers; external ear larger then eye. 

 See 2. 



1. Eye n(>arer top than bottom of more or less incomplete disk; external ear not larger than eye; 



eyes yellow. >See 4. 



2. Ear-tufts present, sometimes very short; cere longer than rest of culmen; eyes yellow. Asio. 



2. Ear-tufts not evident; cere short. See 3. 



3. Wing 12 or more; eyes dark brown. Slrix. 



3. Wing less than 8; eyes yellow. Cryploglaux. 



4. Head without distinct ear-tufts, plumage chiefly white. Nyclea. 



4. Head with conspicuous ear-tufts. See .^. 



5. Length about 22. Biiho. 

 5. Length about 10. Olns. 



Genus Asio (Briss.) 



This genus is composed of owls with more or less developed ear-tufts, and with 

 the external ears enormously large. The ear-tufts are near together on each side 

 of the base of the bill, instead of bc'ing far apart on the outer side of the head, as 

 in the (Ireat Horned Owl and Screech Owl. 



KEY TO SPECIES 



1. Ivu-tufts conspicuous; color darker, barred and striped below. Long-eared Oivl. 

 1. Kar-lufts rudimentary; color lighter, striped below. Slinrt-ctired Owl. 



161. Asio wilsonianus (Lcxs.). Lo.\g-e.\uei) Owl. 



Dcscn'pliim. — Uu>kv, ini>re or less mottled and .streaked with bulTv and grayish; much varie- 

 gated below. L., 14.00; \V., 12.00; T., ti.OO. 



liamjc. — TemiK'rate North .Vmcrica, breeding from Virginia northward. 



Range in North Curolina. — I'robalily entire State, but so far only known from \\';ike, Cuil- 

 ford and Buncombe counties in winter. 



I 



