378 THE BARRED OWL. 
No. 165. 
BARRED OWL. 
A. O. U. No. 368. Syrnium varium (Barton). 
Synonym.—Hoor Owt (sharing the name with Bubo virgimianus ). 
Description.—Adult: No ear-tufts; above dark umber-brown, heavily 
barred with pale tawny or white,—each feather crossed subterminally by a light 
band, and having one or two more on concealed base; wing-quills and tail-feathers 
more broadly barred, the white spots on external webs of the former more or less 
confluent in bars reaching across the wing; below, on the breast, heavily barred 
with a paler brown and white, the latter predominating ; the belly and sides whitish 
or fulvous, not barred, but sharply and sparingly streaked with brown; facial disk 
gray, with indistinct, dusky, concentric circles about each eye, the eyes bordered by 
black on the inner margin; a dark brown area on the forehead; bill yellow; iris 
yellow or brown. Immature: Like adult, but barred instead of streaked on the 
belly; bars on upper parts broader, and appearing more white-spotted. Length 
18.50-24.00 (469.9-609.6) ; wing 13.00-14.00 (330.2-355.6); tail 9.00 (228.0) ; 
tarsus about 2.50 (63.5) ; bill 1.40 (35.6). 
Recognition Marks.—Crow to Brant size; general barred appearance; the 
absence of “horns” will immediately distinguish it from the Horned Owl, with 
which it is comparable in size. 
Nest, a deserted Hawk’s or Crow’s nest, or in a hollow tree. Eggs, 2-4, 
white, subspherical. Av. size, 1.96 x 1.66 (49.8 x 42.2). 
General Range.—E astern United States west to Minnesota, Nebraska, Kan- 
sas, and ‘'exas, north to Nova Scotia and Quebec. Breeds throughout its range. 
Range in Ohio.—Common resident; the most universally distributed Owl 
except Megascops asvo. 
AFTER the Screech Owl this large round-headed bird is the commonest 
of the Owl kind in the state. Altho necessarily somewhat reduced in num- 
bers with the decline in timber area, the species is well distributed; and almost 
any considerable stretch of woods, or a deep rocky ravine, will boast a pair 
ot “Hoot Owls.” The birds hunt mainly by night, but often avail themselves 
of cloudy days, and do not appear so nearly dazed as some in broad daylight. 
It is not unusual for the early bird-man to see the Owl coming in from the 
meadows just before sunrise, and making rapidly for the woods with that 
smoothly alternating flap and sail, which is characteristic of the bird. 
The nightly predatory expeditions are directed mainly against moles, 
gophers, and rabbits; but many insects are added on the one hand and birds 
not a few on the other. The proportion of poultry or game birds eaten is 
very small, and never equal in value to the vermin riddance accomplished ; 
but this is matter of opportunity rather than conscience with the Owl. Ina 
series of ninety-five stomachs examined by Dr. C. Hart Merriam, only three 
contained poultry but twelve others contained birds, among which were found 
two Screech Owls, and one Saw-whet Owl. 
