326 THE MOUNTAIN. 



is one of the commonest species of owls in the Northern 

 and Eastern States on the Atlantic." 



SYRNIUM Nebulosum, (Foster.) Barred owl. This owl 

 has a continental range. Color, " grayish-brown, with trans- 

 verse whitish spots, beneath whitish, with longitudinal spots 

 of brown." Nut. Length, sixteen to twenty inches. This 

 owl is sometimes seen in numbers on the mountain. 



OTUS Brachyotus, (Foster.) Short-eared owl. This is a 

 northern bird, breeding at Hudson's Bay, where it goes in 

 May. Between September and May it sometimes visits the 

 mountain. Color, ochreous, blackish-brown spots ; length, 

 thirteen to fifteen inches ; feeds on mice, and is a daring and 

 courageous bird. 



STRIX Pratincola, (Linn.) White, or barn owl. This 

 species, although a cosmopolite, is but rarely seen on the 

 Alleghany. Color, "yellowish, with darkish zigzag lines, 

 small spots of white, beneath whitish." Nut. Length, four- 

 teen inches. This is the unhappy representative of his family 

 so "hooted at," maligned, and bedeviled by superstitious 

 poets and the small singing birds that he eats.* He devours 

 mice, birds, rats, and moles, and, like the rest of his wise 

 brotherhood, says very little, as all fellows do who have very 

 little to say, and of consequence is reckoned very knowing 

 and sharp by common consent. He is a poor prophet, and 

 consequently, as a bird of either good or evil omen, is a hum- 

 bug. Mice and rats he is after, but has not time to appear 

 as herald of the angel of death, except at the death of his 

 own victims. 



OMNIVOROUS BIRDS. 



LARK. 



STURNTJS Ludovicianus. This is the American meadow 

 lark, and is a common bird, being found wherever the sur- 



* When the owl appears in daylight he is attacked by the whole 

 crowd of the birds of the wood in concert, and most villainously 

 maltreated by all. 



