BIKDS OF INDIANA. 803 



. XXVIII. FAMILY BUBONID^E. HORNED OWLS, ETC. 



a 1 . Wing more than 10.00 inches. 



ft 1 . Cere longer than rest of culiuen ; iris yellow; external ear very large. 



Asio. 81 

 6 2 . Cere short. 



c 1 . Ear tufts very conspicuous; size large. BUBO. 86 



c 2 . Ear tufts very small, or none. 



d 1 . Toes entirely covered with feathers; bill nearly hidden by feathers. 

 e l . Tail 10. inches or less; plumage mostly white. NYCTEA. 87 



e 2 . Tail over 10. inches; plumage not white. SCOTIAPTEX. 83 



d 2 . Toes not entirely covered with feathers ; bill large, yellowish. 



SYRNIUM. 82 

 a 2 . Wing less than 10. inches. 



/*. Ear tufts conspicuous. MEGASCOPS. 85 



f 2 . Ear tufts none. 



g l . Wing over 8. inches. SURNIA. 8S 



g 2 . Wing under 8. inches. NYCTALA. 84 



81. GENUS ASIO BEISSON. 



a 1 . Ear tufts well developed, of 8 to 12 feathers. Subgenus Asio. 



A. wilsonianus (Less.). 146 

 a 2 . Ear tufts not conspicuous, of few feathers. Subgenus BRACHYOTUS Gould. 



A. accipitrinus (Pall.). 147 



*146. (366). Asio wilsonianus (LESS.). 



American Long-eared Owl. 



Ear tufts conspicuous, containing eight to .ten feathers, and about 

 as long as middle toe with claw. 



Color. Above, dusky, mottled with gray, tawny, and blackish. 

 Below, grayish-white, with confused marbling of brown, black and 

 tawny, many feathers with a median longitudinal dusky stripe, which 

 gives off transverse bars. Feet and legs, tawny and unspotted. 



Length, 13.00-16.00; wing, 11.00-12.00; tail, 5.50-6.50. (Fisher). 



RANGE. North America, from Valley of Mexico to Nova Scotia, 

 Hudson Bay (and latitude 61 degrees). Breeds throughout its range. 

 Winters in Maine, Northern New York, Michigan and Minnesota. 



Nest, in trees, using an old nest of some bird or squirrel, in cavities 

 in cliff. Eggs, 3-6; oval; pure white. 



Resident, not common in summer; more numerous in winter. 

 Breeds. 



The Long-eared Owl is more numerous than is generally thought. 

 It is the woodland species of this genus, as the Short-eared Owl is 

 fhe prairie representative. Its woodland retreats, retiring ways, and 



