50 



near Frankfort, Clinton County, in the summer of 1889. They were more numer- 

 ous than I have ever known them in the State during the summer of 1889, the 

 succeeding winter and the past summer (1890.) The fall of 1883 they appear to have 

 been somewhat common in southern Indiana and Ohio. The month of October of that 

 year they were particularly numerous. Mr. Dury gave an account of a company 

 of these occupying the tower of the town hall at Glendale, O., and also of their oc- 

 currence in several neighboring localities at that time. (Journ. Gin. Soc. Nat. 

 Hist., Dec., 1883.) 



FAMILY BUBONID^E. HORNED OWLS, ETC. 



GENUS ASIO BRISSON. 



* 135. Asio wilsonianus (Less.). AMERICAN LONG-EARED OWL. 



Uncommon resident northward ; most numerous in fall, winter and spring, 

 when it is also found occasionally over the southern part of the State. More nu- 

 merous some years than others. Has been found breeding in Dekalb County, where 

 Mr. Herbert W. McBride caught two young ones April 29, 1890. 



* 136. Asio accipitrinus ( Pall.). SHORT-EARED OWL; PRAIRIE OWL. 



Irregular winter resident, occasionally common; resident in some numbers 

 northward. Breeds. Two nests of the Short-eared Owl were found at English 

 Lake about May 6, 1890, one containing three young and two eggs, the other three 

 young. ( Deane.) 



During the winter of 1886-7, when owls and hawks of several species invaded 

 the States north of the Ohio river in such unusual numbers, this was the most 

 common species. They frequented pastures, cleared fie'ds and roadsides. It was 

 not uncommon to see several of these birds at one time, either flying or alighted. 

 They are reported to have been in flocks, in some cases as many as twenty-five in a 

 flock. Dr. Langdon notes that, during February, 1877, a young man who was 

 crossing a partially inundated field counted these birds as they arose before him, 

 and at one time there were thirty in the air. There was only one tree in the field 

 and they all alighted on that tree. (Journ. Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. XII, 1889, p. 

 59.) 



GENUS SYRNIUM SAVIGNY. 

 *137. Syrnium nebulosum (Forst.). BARRED OWL. 



Common resident, breeds. This is well known as the "Hoot Owl." Perhaps 

 not so common in the Whitewater valley as in other localities. 



Head of Barred Owl. 



