367. SHORT-EARED OWL. Asio fiammeus. 



Range. Whole of North America, breeding 

 from the middle portions of the United States 

 northward, and wintering in the United States. 



BIRDS OF PREY 



Short-cared Owl 



White 



This species is of the size of. the last, but is 

 paler, has very short ear tufts, and is streaked 

 beneath. Its habits are the same except that it 

 frequently hunts, over the marshes and mead- 

 ows, on dark days and towards dusk. 



Their four to seven pure white eggs are laid upon the ground in marshy 

 places, sometimes upon a lining of sticks and weeds, and are generally under a 

 bush, or close to an old log. Size of eggs 1.55 x 1.25. 



368. BARRED OWL. Strix varia varia. . ,/* :r * 



Range. Eastern North America, from 

 the British Provinces, southward; west to 

 the Rockies. 



This species is the most common of 

 the large owls, and can be distinguished 

 by its mottled and barred gray and white 

 plumage, and lack of ear tufts; length 20 

 inches. It is the bird commonly meant 

 by the term "hoot owl", and being strictly 



White 



nocturnal, is rarely seen flying in the day time, 

 unless disturbed from its roosting place in the 

 deep woods. Its food consists chiefly of rats, 

 mice and frogs, and sometimes, but not often, 

 poultry. It nests in the heart of large woods, 

 generally in hollows of large trees, and less 

 often in deserted Crow's nests. They lay from 

 two to four pure white eggs, averaging con- 

 siderably smaller than those of the Great Horn- 

 ed Owl; size 1.95x1.65. 



368a. FLORIDA BARRED OWL. 

 Strix varia alleni. 



Range. Florida and the Gulf States; north 

 to South Carolina. 

 229 



,. 



Barred Owl 



