Genus OTUS, Cuvier. 



Gen. Char. General form longer and more slender than in the preceding genera. Head 

 moderate ; ear-tufts long, erectile. Bill rather short, curved from the base ; facial disc more 

 perfect than in the preceding ; wings long ; tail moderate ; tarsi and toes covered with short 

 feathers ; claws long, curved. Eyes rather small, and surrounded by radiating feathers. 



This genu.s contains ten or twelve species of various countries, 

 all of which are more handsome birds than are usually met with 

 in this family. Only one occurs in Canada. 



Otus Vulgaris var. Wilsonianus (Less.) Ai.lex. 



LONG-EARED OWL. 

 PLATE XXII. 



The xA.merican Long-eared Owl is now considered by our 

 leading ornithologists to belong to a different geographical race 

 from that of Europe or Britain ; but I can see no appreciable 

 difference in the birds. The American birds may be and generally 

 are somewhat darker in color, but in all specific details and general 

 habits they resemble their European congeners ; consequently, in 

 mj' opinion, it would much simplify matters were the birds of both 

 continents classed and described under the one name! This has 

 been done with our next species, the Short-eared Owl, which like- 

 wise inhabits both continents ; for though ornithologists have tried 

 hard in its case also to discover sufficient distinctive characters 

 by which to separate American from European individuals, their 

 efforts so far have signally failed, and Coues remarks that he is 

 " unable to appreciate any constant or tangible difference between 

 the European and American bird, although the latter may average 

 slightly larger and a shade darker." But as anything further I 

 might bring forward on this oft mooted question would only be 

 a rehearsal of old and threadbare conjectures, I for the present 

 refrain ; simply adding that, as ornithology in America has now 

 many zealous and able devotees, the truth must sooner or later 

 be arri\ed at. This probably will tend toward a great reduction 



