184 TftE RAPTORIAL BIRDS OF IOWA 



This species is among the most nocturnal of our owls, and is found 

 to keep rather strictly within the limits of the timber and brush-cov- 

 ered lands, or the protection of the pine trees planted about our farm 

 yards. In these respects, it is quite in contrast to its near relative, 

 the Short-eared Owl. It is easily distinguished by its long, ear tufts 

 and its medium size, being considerably larger than the Screech Owl, 

 and very much smaller than the Great Horned Owl, both of which, 

 like the Long Eared Owl, are possessed of ear tufts and yellow eyes. 

 Its nocturnal habits cause it to be overlooked even in regions where 

 it is fairly common. It is a very quiet bird, making little noise except 

 the snapping of its bill when disturbed. It prefers trees with dense 

 foliage, such as evergreens, or thickets of hawthorns. The nest is 

 usually placed at no great distance from the ground, usually an old 

 Crow's nest being used. The eggs are white, and measure about 1.60 

 by 1.30 inches. Mr. G. H. Berry secured a set of five eggs which 

 were laid in an old Crow's nest in Wildcat Grove, seven miles north- 

 east of Marion. Other nests have been reported from time to time. 

 Dr. C. B. Cory states, "There is a set of five eggs in the Field Museum 

 collection taken at Grinnell, Iowa, May 1, 1893." 



Capt. Charles Bendire says, "Mr. J. W. Preston of Baxter, Iowa, 

 writes me that one of their notes resembles "me-ow-ow-ow-ow" of a 

 cat. Another is a subdued "hoo-hoo" or "oo-oo," often uttered for 

 hours during the mating time. At a distance this sounds something 

 like the lowing of a cow." He further states, "At the nest, when dis- 

 turbed, the female ruflfles her feathers, flies to the ground, curves her 

 wings over her head, spreads her tails and feigns lameness, dragging 

 herself along on the leaves, all the time snapping her mandibles, mak- 

 ing a rapping noise as if two sticks were struck together. She will, 

 at such times, also mew like a cat ; if followed, she makes her way in 

 a direction opposite to the nest. While this performance progresses 

 the male is, perhaps, giving vent to his feelings by fluttering about and 

 squealing like a half-grown rat in a trap, or muttering a mournful 

 "hoo-maa-maa-voo" in a subdued tone. I have often mistaken the 

 notes of this bird for those of human beings. On April 3, 1886, I 

 took a fresh laid egg of the Long--eared Owl from a nest of Crow's 

 eggs, and the parent of the latter did not seem to mind the intrusion." 



Since the food of these birds consists almost entirely of small in- 

 jurious rodents, the Long-eared Owl is to be counted among the most 

 beneficial of our birds of prey. 



Mr. Ira N. Gabrielson, at present connected with the United 

 States Department of Agriculture, has kindly sent me the report on 



