RAPTORES. 101 
tured alive, but rarely dead ones are picked up from the 
surface of the water if the bird is hard pressed for food. 
I have seen it catch fish so large that it was barely able to 
get out of the water with its catch. There are instances 
when the bird has struck so large a fish that, unable to loos- 
en his hold, he has been drawn under the water and 
drowned. Large fish have been washed ashore with an Os- 
prey still clinging to them in death, the claws set too firmly 
in flesh and scales to be loosened. 
It has been stated that where Bald Eagles are found there 
the Osprey will be also. That has not proved true in the 
region of Sandusky where the eagles are more numerous 
than elsewhere in the state. Perhaps the Ospreys have 
learned to avoid that region. 
SuBorDER STRIGES. Owls. 
Family Stricip#. Barn Owls. 
13%. (3865.) StTRIX PRATINCOLA Bonap. 152. 
: American Barn Owl. 
Synonyms: Strix flammea var. americana, S. flammea, Aluco 
flammeus americanus. 
Barn Owl, Monkey-faced Owl. 
Kirkpatrick, Ohio Farmer, VIII, 1859, 35. 
“Rare visitor. Not over half a dozen individuals record- 
ed.” (Wheaton.) There has been a very manifest increase 
in the numbers of this owl since Dr. Wheaton wrote the 
above quotation. It is now almost common in the southern 
parts of the state, being even common locally. In the north- 
ern half of the state it is generally reported as rare. Num- 
bers: of specirnens have been taken along the whole lake 
front. It is resident everywhere, and will usually be found 
in barns and church steeples or similar places where it 
spends the day, sallying forth at dusk for its daily catch of 
rats and mice. 
The bird may be known at once by its “monkey face,” 
lack of ear tufts, and bright reddish-brown color. It is 
