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Upper parts dark gray, tinged with light brown — the feathers 

 with central black streaks, and numerous irregular transverse dusky 

 markings ; quills brownish-gray, barred with brownish-black, the 

 outer vanes with white spots shaded with pale reddish-brown ; sec- 

 ondary coverts and scapulars with the outer webs white ; a gray 

 band from the base of the upper mandible over each eye, bounded 

 next to the eye with brownish-red, of which color are the outer 

 feathers of the tufts ; face dark gray, the feathers crossed with 

 blackish ; a black band on the sides of the neck meeting on the fore 

 neck, where it becomes mottled with black reddish-brown and gray- 

 ish white ; breast and sides of the body gray, the feathers crossed 

 with dusky, their central parts broadly streaked with black and has 

 numerous spots of reddish-brown over the entire lower parts ex- 

 cepting the middle portion of the abdomen, which is white ; thighs 

 pale yellowish-red. 



The Screech Owl is found in almost every part of the United 

 States. In the Southern States it is quite rare. Mr. Audubon states 

 that during a long residence in Louisiana he met with but two spe- 

 cimens. With us it is very common ; it is usually found in the 

 woods and orchards ; its food is chiefly mice and small birds. 



One of the few errors made by the lamented Wilson, was in de- 

 scribing the young of this bird as a distinct species. Considering 

 all the disadvantages under which he labored, it is surprising that 

 in his excellent work so few mistakes should have occurred. 

 Had he lived to complete his laudable, and at that period (in this 

 country) novel undertaking, no doubt the corrections that have fall- 

 en to the task of others, would have been made with his own pen. 



From the very satisfactory observations made by the distinguish- 

 ed author of the Birds of America, I supposed it to be a received 

 opinion among Ornithologists, that the young of the Screech Owl 

 is red. In a recent publication, the author has described the bird in 

 red livery as a distinct species, and has stated that the young of the 

 Screech Owl is of similar color as the adult. Shortly after this pub- 

 lication, I received from J. G. Bell, of Rockland County, the follow- 

 ing communication: 



