Ree THE SCREECH OWL. 
No. 168. 
SCREECH OWL: 
A. O. U. No. 373. Megascops asio (Linn.). 
Description.—Adult: With conspicuous ear-tufts; dichromatic. Rufous 
phase.—Aboye cinnamon-rufous, substantially uniform, or with black central 
stripes on the feathers, the latter always(?) present on forehead; considerable 
white on scapulars, wing-coverts, and margins of primaries; wing-quills and tail 
finely and rather indistinctly dusky-barred; below white, heavily blotched with 
cutous, and black-streaked on breast and sides, fading posteriorly ; middle line of 
belly usually immaculate; feet and legs completely feathered, more or less rufous 
spotted ; facial disk grayish and rufous, not highly differentiated from surrounding 
parts; iris yellow; bill yellow or dull gray, light tipped. Gray phase—Similar 
to preceding, but gray or pinkish gray instead of rufous; pattern much more com- 
plex; each teather with dusky or rich brown central stripe, and cross-barred with 
the same color in fine wavy lines; this pattern beautifully carried out on the breast 
and sides of the belly; the ground color of the upper parts ochraceous-buff, and of 
under parts white. Between these two phases there exists every gradation. They 
occur quite independently of age, sex, or season, both phases being sometimes rep- 
resented in the same brood. Young: Heavily barred with dusky gray or rufous 
and dull whitish; no longitudinal markings. Length 8.00-10.00 (203.2-254.) ; 
wing 6.39 (162.3) ; tail 3.44 (87.4) ; bill .81 (20.6). 
Recognition Marks.—Smaller,— ‘Robin size,” horns, with diminutive size, 
distinctive. 
Nest, in hollow trees, Woodpecker holes, etc. Eggs, 4-6, or even 8 and 9, 
white, subspherical. Av. size, 1.40 x 1.20 (35.6 x 30.5). 
General Range.—Temperate eastern North America, south to Georgia and 
west to the plains. Accidental in England. 
Range in Ohio.—Abundant resident. 
PROBABLY nine persons out of every ten shudder when they hear the 
weird and tremulous notes of the Screech Owl; but to the tenth man they 
come like a welcome draught into which has been instilled the essence of all 
wild things, a flavor of mystery and dark deeds, and the authentic tang of 
sorrow which still is joy. It is easier for most people to imagine a use for 
these strange notes similar to that of the catamount’s serenade, viz., to terrify 
intended victims; but only the elect—lady owls and some others—see in them 
the true likeness of a love song. It is comparatively easy to reproduce this 
quavering song, especially if one cultivates a palatal trill, and it will be found 
an exceedingly useful assembly-call in the woods. ; 
The truth of the matter is that every bird’s bill is against this bird, and 
there are none so poor to do him reverence—by daylight. This is not alone 
because he appears stupid and sleepy, or because he regards his tormentors 
with the fixed gravity of a round-eyed gaze, varied only by “that forlorn, 
