THE AMERICAN BARN OWL. 373 
ters. When disturbed during its slumbers 
it makes a hissing noise, or clicks its mandi- 
bles in a threatening way. It has besides 
a “‘peevish scream,” and some querulous 
notes hard to characterize further. Its very 
odd appearance arouses in the average far- 
mer’s boy who discovers him a curiosity 
which is too seldom satisfied until the old 
musket has been discharged and the best 
mouser in seven counties is reduced to a 
mere heap of feathers. 
Of the breeding habits, Captain Charles 
Bendire says:' ‘The Barn Owl, strictly 
speaking, makes no nest. If occupying a 
natural cavity of a tree the eggs are placed 
on the rubbish that may have accumulated 
on the bottom; if in a bank they are laid on 
the bare ground and among the pellets of 
fur and small bones ejected by the parents. 
Frequently quite a lot of such material is 
found in their burrows, the eggs lying on 
and among this refuse. Incubation usually 
commences with the first egg laid, and lasts 
about three weeks. ‘The eggs are almost in- 
variably found in different stages of devel- 
opment, and young may be found in the 
same nest with fresh eggs. Both sexes as- 
sist in incubation and the pair may some- 
times be found sitting side by side, each 
with a portion of the eggs under them.” 
Taken near Circleville. 
Photo by Dr. Howard Jones. 
A NEARER VIEW. 
NEST OF BARN OWL IN NATURAL CAVITY 
OF TREE. 
1 “Life Histories of North American Birds,’ Vol. I., p. 327. 
