THE OWLS. 201 



Captain C. E. Bendire found the food to consist principally of 

 mice and the smaller rodents. 



The long-eared owl commonly breeds in trees, using the 

 deserted nest of a hawk or crow for the purpose. From 

 three to six eggs are deposited. It is a nocturnal bird, hiding 

 in groves of evergreens and other sheltered retreats during 

 the day. 



There are a number of very small owls in the United 

 States. In the South and Southwest are found two species 

 of pygmy owls, usually less than seven inches long; while 

 in Arizona occurs the little ELF OWL, the smallest species of 

 its family in North America. These owls feed upon insects, 

 the smaller mice, and occasionally small birds. 



In the Eastern and Northern States the smallest owl is the 

 ACADIAN or SAW-WHET OWL, a bird usually about eight inches 

 long, which is occasionally found from Canada as far south as 

 North Carolina. Its nest is built in hollow trees, generally in 

 holes made by flickers, during early spring. Its food consists 

 chiefly of mice and shrews, with the addition of insects in 

 summer, and an occasional sparrow or other small bird. The 

 young are fed chiefly upon mice of various kinds and small 

 birds. 



The GREAT HORNED OWL is found over almost the whole 

 of North America. In strength and ferocity it has no equal 

 among our rapacious birds. Of all the owls which we have, 

 it is the only one distinctly harmful. During the day it keeps 

 very closely hidden, more to escape persecution from crows 

 and other birds that delight to torment it than because the 

 light of day is painful to it. As a matter of fact, there is 

 scarcely a keener-visioned creature in the woods than this 

 owl, in spite of the general impression that it cannot see well 

 when the sun shines. 



Its food consists mainly of mammals and birds, though it 

 sometimes catches insects. A specimen examined by us had 

 eaten a caterpillar (Eacles imperialis) in addition to a chicken. 



