87 



time, and captured the female in the hole along with the young one* 

 After a prolonged search, the male was descried sitting in the crotch 

 of a white-oak tree, in the midst of a clump of branchlets ; his "ears" 

 were very conspicuous, and his neck fully extended, as he attempted 

 to obtain a better view of me. Both parents were red ; but the young 

 one was gray, like 'those obtained from the same tree four years pre- 

 yiously. 



The red, and gray-plumaged birds are about equally numerous. 

 Some specimens are intermediate. 



Dimensions, Average measurements of nine specimens : length, 

 9-40; stretch, 2361: wing, 6-40; tail, 3-09; culmen, -63; gape, *98; 

 tarsus, 1-54; middle toe, 1-80; its claw, -48. 



128. Asio americanus (Stephens'). AMERICAN LONG-EARED 

 OWL. A permanent resident; breeds. Mr. Francis Butterfass in- 

 formed me that it was abundant about Cold Spring, where he often 

 shot specimens. It breeds on Constitution Island, where I surprised 

 a family of young ones, accompanied by their parents. It was at 

 mid-day; the Owls sat in a group, with necks elongated, and ears 

 erect. The sun shone bright, but, when disturbed, they flew without 

 apparent inconvenience. 



Dimensions. Measurements of No. 2,021, $ ad. April 9, 1880, 

 Constitution Island, Hudson River, N. Y., E. A. M. : length, 14-30; 

 stretch, 36-00; wing, 11-00; tail, 6-00; culmen measured from frontal 

 feathers, 1-06; bill from nostril, -54; gape, 1-20; tarsus, 1-55; middle 

 toe, 1-11; middle toe and claw, 1-65. Measurements of No. 2,062 $ 

 ad. June 23, 1880, Constitution Island, E. A. M. : length, 1490; 

 stretch, 37-75; wing, 11-00; tail, 6-40; culmen measured from frontal 

 feathers, 1-15; from cere, -70; gape, 1-32; tarsus, 1-68; middle toe 

 and claw, 1-85. 



129. Asio accipitrinus (Pallas}. SHORT-EARED OWL. Occa- 

 sional in spring and fall. 



130. Strix nebulosa (Forster). BARRED OWL. A permanent 

 resident; breeds. Its notes may sometimes be heard during day-time. 



Dimensions. Measurements of No. 1,328, ? ad. October 23, 1876, 

 Highland Falls, N. Y., E. A. M. : length, 19-25; stretch, 44-75; wing, 

 12-00; tail, 8-88. 



131. Nyctea scandiaca (Linne}. SNOWY OWL. Occasional in 

 winter. One was captured in Orange County, about January 20, 1877. 

 Has been reported from numerous points along the Hudson as far up 

 as Fort Edward, in Washington County. 



I saw this splendid Owl in the wild state on the 29th of October, 

 1880, near Garden City, on Long Island, N. Y. It flew from near the 

 railroad : watching it from the car, I saw it alight on the ground 

 amongst some sandy knolls, covered with red bunch-grass. On arriv- 



