266 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 
throughout the year, though more numerous during the breed- 
ing season. It nests freely within the city, even occasionally in 
the business district (Hall Bldg. 1916), where it may also be 
seen in winter feeding on the bountiful supply of English Spar- 
rows. It will nest in any kind of a cavity and should be en- 
couraged to remain by the placing of properly constructed nest- 
ing boxes. 
The Sparrow Hawk has been proven to be a decidedly bene- 
ficial species, as it destroys large quantities of noxious insects 
and English Sparrows. 
Family PANDIONIDAE. Ospreys. 
PANDION HALIAETUS CAROLINENSIS (Gmelin). Osprey. 
Not uncommon migrant; former summer resident. 
The Fish Hawk is seen regularly during April and early May 
and in September and October. It may be looked for on the 
Missouri River or about large ponds and lakes. Three were 
seen over the Lake of the Woods on September 12, 1914, and 
single birds have been frequently observed there. 
The last pair known to have nested in the county was re- 
ported by Bryant in 1884. This pair had their nest on the 
rocks on a high point of the bluffs north of Independence. 
The Osprey is said to breed in the bottom timber a few coun- 
ties to the north. 
Suborder Striges. Owls. 
Family ALuconipAkz. Barn Owls. 
ALUCO PRATINCOLA (Bonaparte). 
TyTO ALBA PRATINCOLA Hartert. Proposed October, 1916. 
Barn Owl. 
Uncommon resident. 
Specimens of the Barn Owl taken in this vicinity during 
May, June and July show that the bird must breed here, and 
there is one locally taken set of eggs known. Bush and Tindall 
state that it breeds in the neighborhood of Courtney and Inde- 
pendence. 
It may be looked for about open farming country as well as 
