BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 205 



They usually have three eggs. Their color is exceedingly 

 variable, part of those I have in my possession being much 

 darker and more extensively blotched than others. But I 

 should call the average reddish-brown with a creamy shade. 



Almost universally distributed throughout the State this 

 hawk is nowhere abundant, Mr. Washburn found them only 

 "sub-common" at Mille Lacs, although I am inclined to think 

 he would have found more of them a little later in the season, 

 as the young would then have been full grown, and ^ on the 

 wing or "fishing" along the shores of the lake. 



They linger in autumn as late as the fishing remains good 

 which is nearly November, but as the waters in the streams 

 and lakes become colder, the fish seek the deeper places, and 

 thus are out of the way of this their great enemy. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 



Wings long; legs, toes and claws very robust and strong. 

 Head, and entire under parts white; stripe through the eye, 

 top of head and upper parts of body, wings and tail, deep 

 umber brown, the tail having about eight bands of blackish- 

 brown; breast with numerous cordate, and circular spots of 

 pale yellowish-brown; bill and claws bluish-black; tarsi and 

 toes greenish yellow. 



Length (female), 25; wing, 21; tail, 10.50. 



Habitat, North America. 



Family STRIGID^. 



STRIX PRATINCOLA Bonaparte. (365.) 

 AMERICAN BARN OWL. 



In 1858 I was informed that the Barn Owls were never seen 

 in Minnesota, and after many years observation of the birds I 

 came to the conclusion that those who had been here before me 

 were right, when I obtained one specimen of the female, and 

 then another long period passed before I saw another that had 

 been shot by a man in the maple woods in the vicinity of Park- 

 er's Lake. Again several years passed, and I heard of some 

 having been obtained, but had some doubts as to the identity, not 

 having seen the birds ; but before very long I began to get one sent 

 me occasionally, and I had the pleasure of obtaining some my- 

 self, and getting statements from one or two persons who were 

 competent and reliable, who described them correctly, when I 

 received a carefully detailed description of the young which I 



