233 



HARKED OWL. 



Syrnium nebulosum. 



DESCRIPTION. 



"Large size; no ear tufts; general color deep umber-brown 

 and buffy-whitish. The plumage everywhere barred trans- 

 versely except on the belly, where the stripes run lengthwise: 

 bill yellow; eyes brown-black. Length 19 to 24 inches; extent 

 about 46 inches." — Fisher. 



Habitat.— Kafitern United States, west to Minnesota and 

 Texas, North to Nova Scotia and Quebec. Resident in Penn- 

 sylvania. 



The Barred Owl is readily distinguished from other 

 species by its large size, yellow-colored bill and its 

 black eyes. Barred Owls are exceedingly abundant 

 in many of the southern States, where they are kno-wn 

 by the names of "Hoot and Swamp Owls," In Penn- 

 sylvania this owl is found all months of the year, and 

 in many of the mountainous and heavy-wooded regions 

 it is the most common of all the owls. 



THE NEST AND EGGS. 



The Barred Owl lays its eggs in a hollow tree, or in a 

 deserted nest of a hawk or crow; the white eggs are a 

 little under tw'o inches long by about one and three- 

 quarters wide. The Barred and Great Horned Owls 

 are the only species, in this locality, whose depreda- 

 tions in the poultry yard bring them to the notice of 

 the farmer. Unfortunately, however, the hatred to- 

 wards these two birds and particularly the enmity 

 against Great Horned Owls, has brought all our owls 

 in bad favor; the farmer's boy and s]>ortsman, with 

 few exceptions, let no opportunity pass to pillage an 

 owl's nest or slay its owners. Tn this way. there aie 

 annually destroyed large iinnibcrs of tlu^ ScnM-ch, 

 15* II 



