110 LO\G-EARED OWL. 



length, by i 5-16 inches in breadth; are subrotund and white. 



This Owl sometimes nests in the hollows of trees — 

 like many other species of the family. It also .sometimes lays 

 its esfes on the bare around — a habit not uncommon in the fur 

 countries — and has even been known to deposit them in the nests 

 of other birds, such as the Crow and Night-Heron. I have been 

 informed by hunters that these Owls generally build rude nests, 

 something like a Crow's or Hawk's, and that the same birds often 

 return regularly to the nest year after year. The Great Horned 

 Owl, as we have seen, also sometimes builds a nest for itself but 

 more often chooses the hollow of a tree or deposits its eggs on 

 the ground. I do not think an)' of the Owls adhere strictly to 

 one particular course respecting their nidification, but rather vary 

 their methods to suit circumstances. Buffon remarks that the 

 Long-eared Owl rarely constructs a nest of its own, but not un- 

 frequently occupies that of others, particularly the Magpie. Wilson 

 describes it as nesting among the branches of trees, anci also 

 records an instance of its using the nest of a Oua-bird or Night- 

 Heron. Sir John Richardson gives it as nesting on the ground, 

 and la)'ing from three to four whitish eggs, and states that a nest 

 was found in this position by Mr. Drummond. He also, however, 

 adds that it sometimes uses the deserted nests of other birds, but 

 whether this is from his own obser\-ation or is borrowed from 

 Wilson — whom he often quotes — is not apparent. Gentry says : 

 " The nests are usually constructed ot rude sticks, sometimes of 

 boughs with the leaves adherent thereto externally, and generally, 

 but not always, lined with the feathers of birds. The same nest is 

 made use of for several successive years." This writer further 

 remarks that no instance of its laying in nests of other birds came 

 under his notice. Audubon, however, again ascribes this habit to 

 the Long-eared Owl. Thus we have authentic accounts of at least 

 three methods resorted to by this Owl in nesting, namely, on the 

 ground, in nests of its own construction, and in those of other 

 birds, such as the Magpie, Crow, and Night-Heron. 



Apparently the Long-eared Owl raises two broods at least in 

 one season, for it is known to lay in the fur countries in April, 



