Birds of Canada. 9 
Syrnium cinereum.—The Cinereous Owl. 
This is the largest member of the owl family. 
Length, thirty inches. Color, ashy-brown, mot- 
tled with ashy-white. Head, large; eyes, small. 
Feeds upon rabbits, squirrels, and other small 
animals. It is a rare visitor to this part of 
Canada. This owl breeds in the far north. 
Nyctale Richardsonit.—The Sparrow Owl. 
This pretty little owl is a regular winter visitor. 
It is eleven inches in length; the color, above, 
reddish-brown, tinged with olive; beneath, ashy- 
white ; legs and bill, light yellow. Breeds in the 
north-west. Nests, in a tree; eggs, four in num- 
ber, pure white. Its food consists of mice and 
small birds. Seeks its prey by night. 
Nyctale acadica—The Saw-whet owl. 
This species is a permanent resident of Canada. 
It is the smallest of the family, being only eight 
and a-half inches in length. Color, above, red- 
dish-brown ; beneath, ashy-white, with spots of 
rufous. It builds its nest in a stump or hollow 
tree; eggs, four in number, pure white. The 
food of this owl consists of bats, mice, and small 
birds. 
