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On Long Island it is not very common, and I believe is no where 

 so abundant as in the Western forests. Selecting the deep and im- 

 penetrable parts of the woods, this nightly disturber of the peace 

 reposes by day in security and silence. At night it prowls about in 

 quest of prey, and often provokes its destruction by descending 

 upon the scanty stock of the new settler. 



Its food consists of small quadrupeds and birds. It nests in a 

 hollow tree. The eggs, which are four in number, resemble in 

 size and color those of the common hen. 



BUBO ASIO— LINN, 



MOTTLED HORNED OWL. 



Mottled Owl, Strix naevia, Wils. Amer. Orn. 

 Red Owl. Strix asio, Wilson (Young.) 

 Mottled Owl, Strix naevia, Nutt. Man,. 

 Red Owl, Strix asio, Nuttall (Young.) 

 Little Screech Owl, Strix asio, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — General color of plumage gray, spotted and 

 streaked with black ; young brownish-red. Adult with the upper 

 parts pale brown, spotted and dotted with brownish-black ; a pale 

 gray line from the base of the upper mandible over the eye ; quills 

 light brownish-gray, barred with brownish-black, their cov- 

 erts dark brown; secondary coverts tipped with white; throat yel- 

 lowish gray; lower parts light gray, patched and sprinkled with 

 brownish-black. 



Young, with the upper parts light brownish-red, the feathers with 

 central blackish-brown lines ; lower parts paler, the feathers more 

 broadly streaked with black ; middle of abdomen, a line over the 

 eye, and tips of the secondary coverts, reddish-white. Length ten 

 inches, wing seven. 



The specimen from which the following description is taken is 

 not in full plumage. I have thought proper to make use of it in 

 order to trace more closely the change which it undergoes before 

 arriving at maturity. 



