JAN., 1909. BIRDS OF ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN CORY. 



489 



and feathers. The eggs are white, four to seven in number, and meas- 

 ure about 1.55 x 1.25 inches. Breeds late in April or in May. 



Genus STRIX Linnaeus. 

 176. Strix varia BARTON. 

 BARRED OWL. 



Syrnium nebula sum (Forst.), A. O. U. Check List, 1895, p. 143. 



Distr. : Southern and eastern United States, north to Nova Scotia 

 and Canada; breeds throughout its range. 



Adult: No ear tufts; toes, feathered; tail, rounded; upper plumage, 

 umber brown,thickly barred with buff and whitish; breast, the same; 



belly, whitish, heavily streaked (not barred) with dark brown; wings 

 and tail barred with gray and pale brown, many of the bars edged with 

 whitish; facial disk with circles of brown around eyes; iris, brownish 

 black. 



Length, 17.50 to 20; wing, 12.75 to I 3-5! tail, 9 to 10.25. 



The Barred Owl is a common resident in wooded localities in Illi- 

 nois and Wisconsin. The nest is in a hollow tree, or sometimes a 



