AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 41 



SCREECH OWL. 



A. O. v. Mo. 373. {Me^ascopj as to). 



RANGE. 



Eastern United States, from southern Canada to southern Georgia. It 

 is a resident and breeds wherever found. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Length, 9 inches; extent of wings, 22 inches; tail, 3.25 inches; eye 

 yellow; bill, grayish; feet, feathered; ear-tufts, conspicuous. Sub- 

 ject to two distinct variations in color, the red and the gray, the 

 markings in either phase being the same. Under parts mottled with 

 either rufous or gray, and black. Below, mottled with the same colors, 

 the black taking the form of bars crossed by numerous streaks. 



NEST AND EGGS. 



The nesting site is nearly always in a natural cavity or a deserted 

 wood-pecker's hole, varying in height from 4 to 50 feet from the 

 ground. The eggs are laid in the bottom of the cavity on the bits of 

 dead wood, and possibly a few dry leaves that have accumulated there. 

 In the southern part of its range, the eggs are laid the latter part of 

 March, while in New England and the northern states, they are laid 

 about the middle of April. Usually four, five or six eggs are laid. 

 They are white, fairly smooth and a little glossy. 



HABITS. 



The Screech Owl is readily iden- their nesting site, although when 



tified, being the only one of the nesting .in the woods, they gener- 



very small owls having ear-tufts, ally use an oak. After incubation 



This is the most common and best has commenced, both birds may 



known of our owls, although to the generally be found on the nest to- 



majority of the uninitiated it is gether. I have found both parents 



only a "cat owl," as are all others and five young in a hole which ap- 



that have ear-tufts. It is not peared to be hardly large enough 



known what causes the difference for one. 



in coloration of these birds. It is Their note is not a screech by 



not due to difference in the any means, and although at times 



sex, or to age, as young birds are is a very mournful, uncanny sound, 



often found in tne same nest show- at others it is a not disagreeable 



ing both phases of color when the trill. The screech owl is a very 



parents are both the same color. sociable bird, and is easily tamed. 



An old orchard is the favorite especially if taken when young, 



haunt of these birds. They pre- What a queer little bird the 



fer an apple tree to any other for young screech owl is, with his 



