LONG-EARED OWL. 109 



any of the individuals whose stomachs were examined ; but during 

 the winter months, when insects are scarce, it is said by American 

 writers to make great havoc among the smaller of the feathered 

 tribes. 



The Long-eared Owl, in the general color ot its plumage and 

 arrangement of markings, much resembles some of the fulvous 

 individuals of the Great Horned Owl species, and I have met 

 with more than one person who firmly believed that the first-men- 

 . tioned was the young of the last. The birds also resemble one 

 another in some of their habits, such as dozing during the day in 

 the gloom of the forest, hunting in the twilight and through the 

 night, making occasional excursions by daylight, and in one or 

 other of their modes of nidification. Their prey, however, is very 

 different, for as we have already seen in a preceding article, the 

 Gjeat Horned Owl boldly attacks large quadrupeds and powerful 

 birds, and indeed almost anything in moderation that crosses his 

 path. 



The Long-eared Owl is not by any means a strictly nocturnal 

 species. It hunts during the day in gloomy weather, and sees 

 well at all times. It is not one of those species which may be 

 taken by hand, but is a vigilant, wide-awake bird, and suspicious 

 at all hours. We have met with it on most of our expeditions in 

 the Province of Ontario and during nearly every month of the 

 summer and autumn, and consequently believe it nests somewhat 

 abundantly. Its nest, however, has but seldom been found, and its 

 eggs are represented in few of our collections. This is doubtless 

 partly owing to the retiring habits of the bird — but, as we have 

 before observed, the nests and eggs of all the Owls are difficult to 

 discover. A nest of this species was found during the summer of 

 1870 by Mr. Craig of Montreal, at Hochelaga (near Montreal), 

 containing four eggs. It was built in the branch of a spruce tree 

 some 25 feet high, about 18 or 20 feet from the ground. The 

 nest was like that of a crow, but larger, and made roughly of 

 twigs and moss. Two of these eggs are now in the collection of 

 the Montreal Nat. Hist. Society. They measure i}4 inches in 



