196 Birds of Oregon and WasJiington 



slightly modified form, covers nearly all of North 

 America. His voice is more like a "tremulous 

 wail " and has been the terror of the superstitious 

 for generations, while it is not seldom mistaken 

 for a human cry of despair by those who do not 

 know its source. It is not always a welcome 

 sound, even when the source is known and 

 there is no superstitious awe in the heart of the 

 listener. But to the Nature-lover the weird call 

 of the Screech Owl is a part of Nature's music, 

 kindles his imagination and touches his heart 

 with satisfaction. 



Mr. Chapman reports that Dr. A. K. Fisher, 

 after examining the stomachs of 225 of the 

 Screech Owl proper, found that ten contained 

 insects, 91 of the remaining 125 contained mice, 

 and poultry was found in only one stomach. 



There are two varieties of this Owl in this 

 section, the Kennicott's, east of the Cascade 

 Mountains, and the MacFarlane's, west of that 

 range. 



The Screech Owl may be recognized by the 

 "tremulous wail" referred to, and by its appear- 

 ance, — partly from its long ear-tufts and partly 

 from its moderate size. The picture given in 



