382 THE SCREECH OWL. 



No. 168. 



SCREECH OWL. 



A. O. U. Xo. 3/3. Megascops asio (Linn.). 



Description. Adult : With conspicuous ear-tufts ; dichromatic. Rufous 

 piiasc. Above cinnamon-rufous, substantially uniform, or with black central 

 stripes on the feathers, the latter always (?) present on forehead; considerable 

 white on scapulars, wing-coverts, and margins of primaries ; wing-quills and tail 

 finely and rather indistinctly dusky-barred; below white, heavily blotched with 

 rufous, and black-streaked on breast and sides, fading posteriorly; middle line of 

 belly usually immaculate ; feet and legs completely feathered, more or less rufous 

 spotted ; facial disk grayish and rufous, not highly differentiated from surrounding 

 parts ; iris yellow ; bill yellow or dull gray, light tipped. Gray phase. Similar 

 to preceding, but gray or pinkish gray instead of rufous ; pattern much more com- 

 plex ; each feather with dusky or rich brown central stripe, and cross-barred with 

 the same color in fine wavy lines ; this pattern beautifully carried out on the breast 

 and sides of the belly ; the ground color of the upper parts ochraceous-buff , and of 

 under parts white. Between these two phases there exists every gradation. They 

 occur quite independently of age, sex, or season, both phases being sometimes rep- 

 resented in the same brood. Young : Heavily barred with dusky gray or rufous 

 and dull whitish; no longitudinal markings. Length 8.00-10.00 (203.2-254.); 

 wing 6.39 (162.3) ; tail 3.^4 (87.4) ; bill .81 (20.6'). 



Recognition Marks. Smaller, "Robin size," horns, with diminutive size, 

 distinctive. 



Nest, in hollow trees, Woodpecker holes, etc. Eggs, 4-6, or even 8 and 9, 

 white, subspherical. Av. size, 1.40 x 1.20 (35.6 x 30.5). 



General Range. Temperate eastern North America, south to Georgia and 

 west to the plains. Accidental in England. 



Range in Ohio. Abundant resident. 



PROBABLY nine persons out of every ten shudder when they hear the 

 weird and tremulous notes of the Screech Owl ; but to the tenth man they 

 come like a welcome draught into which has been instilled the essence of all 

 wild things, a flavor of mystery and dark deeds, and the authentic tang of 

 sorrow which still is joy. It is easier for most people to imagine a use for 

 these strange notes similar to that of the catamount's serenade, viz., to terrify 

 intended victims ; but only the elect, lady owls and some others see in them 

 the true likeness of a love song. It is comparatively easy to reproduce this 

 quavering song, especially if one cultivates a palatal trill, and it will be found 

 an exceedingly useful assembly-call in the woods. 



The truth of the matter is that every bird's bill is against this bird, and 

 there are none so poor to do him reverence by daylight. This is not alone 

 because he appears stupid and sleepy, or because he regards his tormentors 

 with the fixed gravity of a round-eyed gaze, varied only by "that forlorn. 



