LONG-EARED OWL. 



143 



rapidly througli the most intricate passages and to evade obstructions, 

 demonstrating that its vision is in no way defective. The bird is not 

 wild, and will allow itself to be closely approached. When conscious 

 that its presence is recognized it sits upright, draws the feathers close 

 to the body and erects the ear tufts, resembling in appearance a piece of 

 weather-beaten bark more than a bird. It makes a very gentle and 

 interesting pet, and will afford great amusement by its numerous antics. 

 All individual which the writer once had would allow itself to be 

 dressed in a doll's hood and shawl by the children. When too roughly 

 handled it would fly to the top of a door, though in a few minutes it 

 would return to them and appeared to be interested in all the details of 

 their play. Mr. F. H. Carpenter (Ornithologist and Oologist, vol. viii, 

 1883, p. 62) mentions a peculiar habit in one of these Owls which he 

 reared from the nest. Seeing a basket of chaft" which it had learned to 

 know contained young mice, the bird Avould draw each of its claws 

 through its bill, and, as soon as the material was placed on the floor 

 of the apartment, would fly down and begin the search, scratching after 

 the manner of a hen, at the same time keeping up a contented preening 

 noise. 



Like the other Owls, its flight is slow and wavering, but in common 

 with them it is buoyant and devoid of any appearance of heaviness. 

 The note of this Owl is said by some to resemble the noise made by 

 kittens, while others state it is like the barking of small dogs. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Ear tufts conspicuous, containing eight to ten feathers, and about as 

 long as middle toes with claw. 



Color. — Above dusky, mottled with gray, tawny, and blackish ; below 

 grayish white with confused marbling of brown, black, and tawny, 

 many feathers with a median longitudinal dusky strii;)e which gives off 

 transverse bars. Feet and legs tawny aud unspotted. 



Length: 13 to 16 inches (330 to 406"""); extent, about 39 inches 

 (91)0'"'"); wing, 11 to 12 inches (280 to 305™™); tail, 5.50 to 6.50 inches 

 (140 to 165"""). 



TahJe showing the results of examinations of 107 stomachs of the Long-eared Owl 



(Asio wilsonianus). 



