172 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



363. Guadalupe Caracara. Polyborus lutosus. 



Range. Guadalupe Island and others off Lower California. 



This species is somewhat like the preceding but the plumage is duller, and 

 the coloration more uniform. Their nesting habits and eggs do not vary essen- 

 tially from those of Audubon Caracara. Mr. John Lewis Childs has a set of two 

 eggs taken June 8, 1896, on Santa Anita Island, by Coolidge and Miller. The 

 nest was made of sticks and situated in a giant cactus. The eggs are slightly 

 brighter and more clearly marked than any of cheriway that I have ever seen. 



364. American Osprey; Fish Hawk. Pandion haliaetus carolinensis. 



Range. Whole of Temperate America from the Arctic Circle south to the 

 equator, most abundant along the sea coasts. 



Probably this great fisherman is 

 as well known from one end of the 

 country to the other as any of our 

 wild birds. . He is protected by law 

 in a great many states and by cus- 

 tom in nearly all localities where 

 they breed. It is one of thepleasant- 

 est sights along the coast to watch 

 a number of these great birds as 

 they soar at an elevation above the 

 water, watching for a fish to come 

 near the surface, when, with folded 

 wings, the bird speeds downward 

 and plunges into the water, rarely 

 missing his prey. In many locali- 

 ties they are very tame and nest 

 in the vicinity of houses, sometimes 

 even in the yard. Their nests are 

 platforms of sticks, which, being 



used year after year and constantly added to, become of enormous proportions. 



They lay two or three eggs of a bright creamy color, handsomely blotched with 



bright chestnut brown. They show a great diversity of size as well as markings, 



but average 2.40 x 1.80. 



[Bright cream color.] 



BARN OWLS. Family STRIGID/E. 



365. Barn Owl. Strix pratincola. 



Range. Chiefly in the southern parts of the 

 United States; north casually to Massachusetts, 

 Minnesota and Washington. 



This is one of the lightest colored of the Owls; 

 it has a long, peculiarly hooded face, from 

 which it gets the name of "Monkey-faced Owl." 

 Its plumage is yellowish buff, specked and 

 barred lightly with blackish. 



[White. 



