346 LAND-BIRDS. 



a. About eighteen inches long. General colors, brown 

 (cinereous above), and white (or tawny). Chiefly barred, but 

 on the belly streaked. Eyes, small, very dark, and bordered 

 on the inner edge with black. 



b. Evidence indicates that the Barred Owls usually build 

 their own nests, choosing for a site some crotch next to the 

 trunk of a pine or oak. The nests are finished in the latter 

 part of April, and three or four eggs are then laid. These 

 latter are white, and generally measure about 2.00 X 1.70 of 

 an inch. 



c. The Barred Owls are apparently common residents in 

 all the Atlantic States, but near Boston they have probably 

 decreased in numbers proportionally to the decrease of wood- 

 land. They may, however, not unfrequently be seen during 

 the day, reposing in some thick wood of pines or hemlocks. 

 On such an occasion, they watch your motions, as you approach, 

 and should you walk from one side of the tree to the other, 

 they follow you with their eyes, turning their head as if they 

 must infallibly twist it off, but not moving the body. No 

 creature for solemnity and soberness could better be fitted for 

 the office of judge, and I am sure that every culprit would 

 quail before such a stern, unvaried, and unceasing gaze. The 

 effect of their behavior in a dark wood is not unlike that of 

 entering a darkened chamber, and observing the eyes of a grim 

 ancestral portrait, everywhere following, as if to shame one 

 out of some degeneracy. It is often difficult to start these 

 Owls, but sometimes, if your back is turned, they take the op- 

 portunity to glide away silently, and I have noticed that on 

 such occasions they do not seem to be much embarrassed by 

 the light. They hunt at night, and are said to feed upon 

 small birds, mice, snakes, frogs, and also larger game. I am 

 inclined to believe that the males and females live apart ex- 

 cept in the early spring season, when their hootings are heard 

 even during the day. 



d. Their hootings are guttural, and though ludicrous, 

 rather startling. Audubon thought that they might be com- 

 pared to an affected burst of laughter. It has been asserted 

 that the voice of the male is much weaker than that of his 

 mate, as well as much less often heard. 



