288 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
I have seen a few nests, however, on living trees. The food of 
this species consists principally of fish. I have watched them, 
after flying slowly over a shallow bay, stop and hover for a few - 
seconds, then close their wings and drop like a meteor upon some 
luckless fish which they seldom fail in catching. On a few occa- 
sions I have seen them with snakes. Their nest is a huge heap of 
sticks, usually placed on the top of a tall stub, scarcely ever less 
than fifty feet from the ground. (Spreadborough.) 
FamMitry XXIX. STRIGIDA. Barn Owls. 
CLIW. STRIX. Linnazus. 1758. 
365. American Barn Owl. 
Strix pratincola BONAP. 1838. 
Apparently rare in Newfoundland, only one specimen taken. 
(Reeks.) In May, 1882, a specimen was killed by young Mr. Reid, 
gardener, York street, Hamilton, and in the fall of the same year 
another was found in an empty out-house near the canal leading 
to Dundas. Dr. Garnier, of Lucknow, Ont., saw one some years 
ago; and Mr. C. J. Brampton, of Sault Ste. Marie, reports having 
seen two at that place. (MclIlwraith.) A specimen was captured 
alive on a coal dock near the bay-front, Toronto, on September 
7th, 1899. The bird soon died and proved to be a male. This is 
the only Toronto record of which I am aware. (J. H. Fleming in 
The-Auk, Vols XVI, p. 177.) In the Bryant collection inthe 
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy there is an American barn owl 
taken by Mr. Louis Cabot at Long Point, Ont., early in November, 
1899. The specimen (No. 1482) was secured for the collection 
by Mr. H. B. Bigelow. (Reginald Heber Howe, jr., in The Auk, 
Vol XxX p. 702) 
& 
FAMILY XXX. BUBONIDAS. HorneEpD Owts, &c 
CLIV. ASIO. Brisson. 1760. 
3066. American Long-eared Owl. 
Asio wilsonianus (Lrss.) CouEs. 1882. 
This species, like most of the owls, is so retiring in its habits 
that their absence from a district is more apparent than real. On 
this account we conclude that it breeds in its range from New- 
