124 The Birds of Albany County 



a sally into the barnyard and carries off a succulent chicken. 

 The Great Horned breeds very early in the year, fresh eggs 

 having been found as early as February, when the ground 

 was covered with snow. The nest is placed in a tree and is 

 generally an elaboration of a hawk's or squirrel's nest. Two 

 or three large, white eggs are laid. 



Screech Owl. — Megascops asio. 9.45 



Common Permanent Resident 



Field marks. — Appears in two phases, one reddish brown, the 

 other silvery-gray, both flecked and streaked with black; 

 eyes yellow; ear-tufts an inch long, on sides of head. 



This is the commonest of the Owls about here. Sometimes 

 just at dusk one will invade the Capital City, possibly to 

 absorb a little more "wisdom" from the legislative atmosphere. 



Nest is in a hollow tree; eggs, four to six, white. 



Saw-whet Owl; Acadian Owl. — Nyctala acadica. 8.00 



Rare Winter Visitant 



Field marks. — Smallest species here; no ear tufts; upper parts 

 dark grayish-brown; under parts white, streaked with 

 brown. 



I know a gentleman who has one of these birds mounted, 

 in his library. It was taken near Albany. There are few 

 records, but its winter range covers this County and I am 

 told that it is present in small numbers. 



