196 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



7, 21 and 30, 1886, found four sets of the eggs of this species ; two sets 

 of five and two of seven eggs each. They were taken from deserted 

 woodpeckers' excavations in tree stubs, ranging from twenty-two to 

 fifty feet from the ground. The eggs were laid on the rotten chips in 

 the cavities, and a few feathers of the Owl were present. The eggs 

 are white, nearly elliptical; the average size is 1.20 x 1.02. The num- 

 ber ranges from four to seven. 



373. Megascops asio (Linn.) [402.] 



Screecli Oxirl. 



Hab. Eastern United States, north to British Provinces; west to the Great Plains, south to Georgia. 



The Mottled Owl is resident throughout Eastern United States 

 and Canada ; west to the Rocky Mountains ; on the limits of its range 

 shades into several varieties. The eggs of the different varieties of 

 Megascops are not distinguishable. The nest of the Little Horned or 

 Red Owl, as it is often called, is made in a hollow tree or stump, some- 

 times in the topmost corner inside of an old barn or shed. I have 

 found several nests between the broken siding of ice-houses along 

 streams. The materials used are a few sticks, leaves, feathers, etc., on 

 which the eggs are laid. In the month of April, 1885, a farmer brought 

 me nine young, with the parent birds, which he had taken from a hol- 

 low tree. One of the old birds was gray, the other red, and some of 

 the young were of the red, and some of the gray type of coloration, 

 this being a common occurrence. 



The eggs of this bird range usually from four to six, frequently 



eight, and rarely nine ; they are white, nearly round and average 1.40 



X 1.20. 



373^. Megascops asio floridanus (Ridgw.) [402a.] 



Florida Screech Oirl. 



Hab. Florida, Southern Georgia, occasional in Louisiana. 



A smaller and much darker form in the red and gray phases of 

 plumage inhabiting Florida and adjoining regions. Its habits are the 

 same as those of M. asio^ and eggs in my collection are not distin- 

 guishable except, perhaps, by their smaller size, 1.32 x 1.15. 



373<5. Megascops asio mccallii (Cass) [402^.] 



Texas Screech Owl. 



Hab. Rio Grande Valley of Texas, south to Guatemala. 



This is a slightly darker bird than asio^ of the same size as flori- 

 dmms^ and found in the red and gray plumage. Three eggs in my 

 cabinet, collected near Corpus Christi, March 20, 1885, measure 1.36 x 

 1. 17, 1.33x1.18, 1.36x1.15. 



