292 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



and other insects. It tbus destroys a large number of field mice, and the large 

 cockchafer, so injurious to our fruit trees. In Avinter it familiarly enters our 

 barns and outhoases, where it becomes an expert and industrious mouser. 



2. (S. 7?«tv'a, (Gnu'l.,) ]\Iichener, mottled owl. Resident, common ; carnivo- 

 rous ; habits similar to the hiKt. 



Observation. — Most ornithologists consider the red and gray screech-owls 

 identical. This may be so. Bonajiarte, Audubon, and others say the red is 

 the young and the mottled the mature bird ; others just reverse it. Audubon 

 says the " feathers change their colors as the pairing season advances, and in 

 X\ni first spring the bird is in its perfect dress ;" consequently the young or red 

 bird could not be expected to breed ; yet 1 have found red parents witli a red 

 brood, and also mottled parents with a mottled brood. Although presenting an 

 anomaly perhaps unknown in any other species of bird, I have therefore resep- 

 arated them for the present. 



14. Genus Otus, (Cuv., 1817.) 



1. O. ivUsonianvs, (Gmel.,) Less., long-eared owl. Resident, rare, or sel- 

 dom seen ; carnivorous. " It preys chiefly on quadrupeds of the genus arvi- 

 cola, (meadow mice,) and in summer destroys many beetles." (And.) 



15. Genus Bracliyotus, (Gould, 1837.) 



1. B. cassinii, (Forst.,) Brewer, short-eared owl. Resident, frequent in 

 winter, rare in summer ; carnivorous ; habits and food similar to those of the 

 preceding species, which it somewhat resembles, except that it is more diurnal, 

 and consequently feeds more on day food. When hungry, it will approach the 

 farm-house in quest of garbage ejected from the kitchen. 



16. Genus Syrniu)u, (Savig., 1809.) 



1. S. nebulosum, (Forst.,) Bd., barred owl. Resident, frequent — most so 

 in winter ; carnivorous. " A great destroyer of poultry, particularly of chickens 

 when half grown ; it also secures mice, rabbits, and small birds," and, like other 

 gourmands, "is especially fond of a kind of frog common in the woods of Lou- 

 isiana." (And.) 



17. Genus Nyctale, (Steph., 1S26.) 



1. N. acadica, (Gmel.,) Bd., little owl. , Resident, not common, or rarely 

 seen; carnivorous ; "feeds on mice, beetles, moths, and grasshoppers," (Nutt.,") 

 " small quadrupeds and birds." (Aud.) 



18. Nyctea, (Steph., 182G.) 



1. N. nivea., (Bona.,) Bd., snowy owl. "Winter resident, very rare; car- 

 nivorous ; rather diurnal or crepuscular than nocturnal. " Its usual food while 

 it remains with us consists of hares, squirrels, rats, and fishes." (Aud.) It also 

 catches the pheasant and other kindred birds. 



IV. FAanLY CUCULID^, (THE CUCKOOS.) 



19. Genus Coccygus, (Vieill., 1816.) 



, 1. C. americanus, (Linn.,) Bon., yellow-billed cuckoo. Summer resident, 

 common ; insectivorous. They seem to prefer insect food, but suck the eggs 

 of other birds, and also feed on berries, &;c. It should, however, serve as a 

 special plea on their behalf, that they not only devour but even feed their young 

 on the hairy caterpillars of our orchards, which arc rejected by most other 

 insectivorous birds. 



2. C. erythrophthalmus, (Wils.,) Bon., black-billed cuckoo. Summer resi- 

 dent, frequent ; insectivorous. This and the preceding species very closely 

 resemble each other, both in ajipearance and habits. 



V. FAMILY PICIDiE, (THE WOODPECKERS.) 



20. Genus Ficus, (Linn., 1748.) 



1. p. villosus, (Linn.,) hairy woodpecker. Resident, common; insectiv- 

 orous ; feeds on the larva; of insects, and on the insects themselves ; although 

 jn autumn it seeks beiTies, &c. 



