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son have been observed along the southern portion of the sea coast 

 of the United States. A few are seen every Avinter on the south 

 side of Long Island. It is usually found on the beach, where it is 

 doubtless attracted by the dead fish thrown up by the sea. It is also 

 said to prey upon hares and small birds. In its habits it is diurnal 

 as well as nocturnal. When alarmed, it takes wing, uttering a loud 

 and dismal cry. 



A friend residing on the Island having wounded a specimen in 

 the wino-, brought it home aUve, and kept it in confinement several 

 weeks. Among other articles of food he offered it Uve rats, which 

 it devoured greedily. 



GENUS ULULA — CUVIER. 



NIGHT OWL. 



[Bill robust, curved from base ; feathers of the face fully developed ; head 

 without tufts ; tail slightly rounded, of moderate length ; habits nocturnal.] 



ULULA ACADICA— GMEL. 

 ACADIAN OWL. 



Little Owl, Strix passerina, Wils. Amer. Orn. 



Strix acadica, American Sparrow Owl, Sw. & Rich. 



Acadian Owl, Strix acadica, Nutt. Man. 



Little or Acadian Owl, Strix acadica, Wils. Amer. Orn. 



Specific Characters — Head without tufts ; tail short, with three 

 narrow white bands ; disk pale yellowish gray ; bill bluish-black. 

 Adult with the upper parts tinged with olive brown ; first six pri- 

 maries with white markings on both webs ; secondaries, scapulars, 

 and some of the wing coverts spotted with white : tail brown, with 

 bands of white and tipped with the same color ; lower parts white, 

 very broadly streaked with reddish-brown. Length seven inches 

 and a half, wing five and a half 



This, the smallest of its tribe that has been observed in this vicin- 

 ity, is said to inhabit the northern regions of both continents. With 

 us it is quite rare. In the swamps along the sea coast of Maryland 

 and New Jersey, it is said to be more corrunon. It is seldom seen 

 flying in the day time excepting when disturbed ; at such times it 



