140 VERTEBRATES: BIRDS. 



and with transverse lines of the same color. Younger 

 individuals have the upper parts pale brownish-red with 

 longitudinal lines of brownish black, and the tail rufous 

 with bands of brown. This owl preys upon mice, small 

 birds, and beetles. Its notes are uttered in a tremulous, 

 doleful manner, and may be heard several hundred yards. 

 It often comes to the farm-houses, and alights upon the 

 roof. The nest is in a hollow tree ; the eggs are four or 

 five, white, and nearly globular. 



The Western Mottled Owl, 5. McCallii, Cass., of West- 

 ern North America, is closely related to the preceding 

 one, but is smaller. 



The Genus Otus Long-eared Owls is characterized 

 by a longer and more slender . form than the preceding 

 genera, moderate-sized head,, ear-tufts long and erectile, 

 facial disk well marked, and eyes small and surrounded 

 by radiating feathers. Ten or twelve species are known, 

 only one of which belongs to North America. 



The Long-eared Owl, O. Wilsonianus, Lesson, of tem- 

 perate North America, is fifteen inches long, the wing 

 eleven, and readily distinguished by its long ear-tufts. 

 It lingers about mountain streams, perching on a low 

 tree or shrub. When disturbed, it does not fly, but 

 bounds into the thicket, and makes off by long leaps. 

 Its cry is prolonged and plaintive, consisting of two or 

 three notes repeated at intervals. It rears its young in 

 nests which it finds, seldom making one for itself. 



The Genus Brachyotus Short-eared Owls is char- 

 acterized by short and inconspicuous ear-tufts. 



The Short-eared Owl, B. Cassinii, Brewer, of temper- 

 ate North America and Greenland, is fifteen inches long, 

 and the wing twelve inches. 



The Genus Syrnium Gray Owls is characterized 

 by large size, large head, absence of ear-tufts, rather 

 small eyes, tail usually rounded at the end, and the preva- 

 lent colors of the plumage gray and cinereous. 



