THE OWLS 



223 



saw-whet owl. The note of the screech owl, very far 

 from being a screech, is a low tremulous whistle, some- 

 times almost a wail. 



The saw-whet or Acadian owl is the smallest of the 

 owls found in Eastern United States, being only eight 

 inches long. It is usually found during the day in ever- 

 green thickets, thorn bushes, or other thick places, and 

 frequently is so tame or sleeps so soundly as to allow 

 itself to be taken in the hand. 



In the Plains region of Western United States and in 

 Southern Florida, occurs the burrowing owl, a strange 

 little round headed bird with legs longer than most owls 

 because of its terrestrial habits. The western form lives 



NATURE'S CAMOUFLAGE 

 Several species of owls have ear tufts on the head to render its contour 

 jagged. Then when their eyes are nearly closed and the feathers drawn 

 close, they resemble a broken piece of bark and usually escape detection. 

 This is a little screech owl practicing his artifice upon the photographer. 



in the prairie dog towns but the Florida owl digs its 

 "own burrow in the sandy soil. 



The two smallest owls are the pigmy and elf owls of 

 the Southwest. The former is a diurnal bird flying 

 around even in the bright sun in its pursuit of insects. 

 It measures six and a half to seven and a half inches 

 in length and is about an inch longer than the tiny elf 

 owl. The latter spends its days in woodpecker holes, 

 particularly those in the giant cactus, and like other owls, 

 comes out at night to feed. 



Another diurnal owl and by far the most hawk-like 

 of all the owls is the hawk owl. It is a gray and brown 

 bird somewhat larger than the long-eared owl and with- 

 out ear tufts. Its tail is conspicuously longer than in 

 other owls which add* to its hawk-like appearance. It 



ANOTHER CASE OF "HOARDING" 



Young long-eared owls about a week old waiting for an appetite. The 

 old birds have caught more mice than their four youngsters can eat and 

 have left two on the pantry shelf. 



inhabits northern North America and comes southward 

 in winter rather erratically. 



The second family of owls, Aluconidae, are called the 

 barn owls. There are about 25 species and sub-species, 

 found especially in the warmer parts of the world. All 

 are similar in color and habits although they vary in 

 size. They differ from the other owls in having long 

 slender legs, and nearly white underparts speckled with 



WHERE "HOARDING" IS LEGITIMATE 



One of the eggs has just hatched and there is plenty of food waiting for 

 the first child. This is the nest of a great horned owl, fifty feet from 

 the ground in an enormous white pine. The presence of the Norway rat 

 on the back of the nest proves that this magnificent bird is destructive, 

 and not. only to poultry. 



