THE BARRED OWL 195 



Description. Above, dark buffy brown and whitish, barred with 

 brown across each feather. Below, with the same barring on the 

 upper breast, but streaked on lower breast and belly. Eyes dark col- 

 ored. No ear-tufts. 



Measurements. Length, 20 to 22 inches; wing, 13 to 14 inches; 

 tail, 9 to 10 inches. 



Range. Eastern North America generally ; breeding in the 

 United States chiefly, from our northern v border to Georgia, and west 

 to Kansas and Colorado. 



The Barred Owl is a common species throughout the state where- 

 ever groves of sufficient size, especially the wooded bottom lands of 

 streams or the margins of lakes and sloughs, afford adequate cover. 

 It seems particularly partial to timber near the water ; and therefore 

 is found in greatest abundance along the flood plains, and on the 

 islands of the Mississippi, Missouri and the larger inland streams of 

 the state. 



While it hunts mostly at night, it is not averse to being abroad dur- 

 ing" the darker days. 



Its call is similar in pitch to that of the Great Horned Owl, but is 

 differently spaced, and may be represented by who who who- 

 ivho-aa. Not infrequently at the close of the call there may be heard 

 a chuckle or laugh. The cries of these birds when heard just outside 

 the tent on a dark night are quite alarming to the timid. 



The abundance of these birds is indicated by the fact that the 

 writer has rarely been in a well timbered part of the state where their 

 cries have not been heard in the twilight, dusk or early dawn. 



While they are moving about on cloudy days, and sometimes when 

 they are discovered in their places of concealment on bright days, 

 they are unmercifully mobbed by bands of Crows and Blue Jays. 



The nesting season is usually in March ; and a hollow tree is com- 

 monly selected as a nesting site, though some observers have found 

 them occupying open nests. They are strongly attached to their 

 homes, once chosen ; and a second setting of eggs will usually be laid 

 in case the first is removed. On April 4, 1896, Mr. G. H. Berry se- 

 cured a set of three eggs from a Barred Owl's nest which had yielded 

 me a set about three weeks before. 



The eggs are subspherical, white, and measure about 2.00 by 

 1.60 inches. 



The food of these birds consists very largely of small mammals. 

 Birds of several species, insects, fish and especially cray fish and- 



