356 I^IFE HISTORIES OP NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



farmer can have about his place, as it lives almost exclusively on mice and 

 other rodents, of which it destroys large numbers yearly, and noxious insects 

 as well, seldom molesting a bird of any kind, and occasionally fish, craw- 

 fish, and frogs are also eaten. One of these birds kept in confinement by 

 .Mr. O. H. Zimmermann seemed to be fond of caterpillars. The indigestible 

 portions of the food used, such as bones and the fur of the rodents killed, 

 are thrown up in the shape of pellets about eight hours after having been 



eaten. 



I could not, if I wished, describe their call notes. It is beyond my 

 ability to do justice to them on paper; the words "lugubrious" and "uncanny" 

 express their sound as well as any, and it is mainly these doleful moans 

 which prejudice many otherwise intelligent persons against these useful birds. 

 Sometimes, however, their notes are rather clear and soft and not unpleasant. 



I believe the Screech Owl remains paired through life. The mating period 

 begins usually about, the 1st of March, occasionally a little earlier or later, 

 according to the season. 



Mr. Lynds Jones, of Grinnell, Iowa, writes me: "I saw this species mating 

 once. The female was perched in a dark leafy tree apparently oblivious of the 

 presence of her mate, who made frantic efforts through a series of bowings, 

 wing-raisings, and snappings to attract her attention. These antics were con- 

 tinued for some time, varied by hops from branch to branch near her, accom- 

 panied by that forlorn, almost despairing wink peculiar to this bird. Once or 

 twice I thought I detected sounds of inward groanings, as he, beside himself 

 with his unsuccessful approaches, sat in utter dejection. At last his mistress 

 lowered her haughty head, looked at and approached him. I did not stay 

 to see the sequel." 



In the southern and central parts of its range nidincation begins about 

 the latter half of March or the first part, of April; in the New England 

 and Northern States, usually somewhat later, between the middle of April 

 and the beginning of May. 



The nesting site chosen is nearly always a hollow in a tree, either an 

 abandoned Woodpecker's hole, or oftener a natural cavity, varying in height 

 from 3 to 40 feet from the ground, usually at distances from 10 to 20 feet 

 up. Occasionally it nests in boxes nailed up in trees or in some dark cor- 

 ner under the eaves of a barn or outbuilding, in dovecots, etc. Hollow apple 

 trees and oaks seem to be favorite sites with them, and in Kansas and 

 Nebraska, cottonwoods. Mr. Oliver Davie mentions his having found several 

 nests between the broken siding of ice houses along streams. Mr. 0. S. 

 Brimley found a set of three eggs of this species placed in a cavity of a 

 stump, the bottom of which was below the level of the ground outside; they 

 were taken on April 27, 1885, and were much incubated when found. 



Strictly speaking, the Screech Owl makes no nest, the eggs being laid 

 in the bottom of the cavity on such rubbish as naturally accumulates therein, 

 such as bits of rotten wood, a few dry leaves, and the feathers dropped from 



