Appendix, 



2. Feet short and feathered. 



a. Back with large white spots. 



Saw- whet Owl . . .36 



b. Back with fine round white dots. 



Pygmy Owl . . , 41 



THE OWL FAMILY.* 



Distinguished from all other birds by having the 

 eyes directed forward instead of sidewise, thus 

 giving the characteristic full-face view which we 

 associate with these birds. The ear covering 

 generally conspicuous. Most species are noc- 

 turnal in habits and all feed upon flesh and 

 insects. 



3 1 . American Barn Owl ; Strix pratincola 

 (Bonap.). 



Length sixteen inches. An unmistakable species 

 on account of the very pronounced disk of 

 feathers about the face. No ear tufts. Gen- 

 eral color tawny or fawn, darker above, some- 

 times almost or quite white below. The 

 plumage is curiously dotted with black and 

 white above and below; the yellowish ground 

 color is overlaid with a soft tinge of gray. 

 Note a squawk uttered on the wing. Nest in 

 barns or ruins. An abundant resident of the 

 valleys of California. 



32. American Long-eared Owl; Asio wihonianus 

 (Less.). 



* The barn-owl is classed in a family by itself, with certain tech- 

 nical differences from other owls, but for the sake of simplicity I 

 have grouped it with the other genera. 



283 



