OWLS. 215 



Washington, common P. R. Sing Sing, common P. R. Cambridge, not 

 common P. R. 



Nest, generally in an old Crow's, Hawk's, or Squirrel's nest. Eggs, three 

 150 six, 1-65 x T30. 



" This species, like the Screech Owl, is nocturnal in its habits, and 

 differs from the Short-eared Owl in never hunting during the day- 

 time. It usually spends the day in some evergreen woods, thick wil- 

 low copse, or alder swamp, although rarely it may be found in open 

 places. . . . 



" The bird is not wild, and will allow itself to be closely approached. 

 When conscious that its presence is recognized, it sits upright, draws 

 the feathers close to the body, and erects the ear-tufts, resembling in 

 appearance a piece of weather-beaten bark more than a bird. . . . 



" Like the other Owls, its flight is slow and wavering, but in com- 

 mon with them it is buoyant and devoid of any appearance of heavi- 

 ness. The note of this Owl is said by some to resemble the noise made 

 by kittens, while others state it is like the barking of small dogs. 



" Of 107 stomachs examined, 1 contained a game bird ; 15, other 

 birds ; 84, mice ; 5, other mammals ; 1, insects ; and 15 were empty " 

 (Fisher). 



367. Asio accipitrinus (Pall.). SHORT-EARED OWL. Ad. Ear-tufts 

 very short, difficult to distinguish in a dried skin ; upper parts fuscous, the 

 feathers margined with cream-buff' or ochraceous-buff, not mottled with white ; 

 tail with ochraceous-buff' and fuscous bands of about equal width ; under 

 parts varying from whitish to ochraceous-buff', the breast broadly and the 

 belly more finely streaked with fuscous: eyes yellow. L., 15-50; W., 12-75; 

 T., 6-05; B., 1-20. 



Range. Nearly cosmopolitan, breeding in the United States locally from 

 Virginia northward. 



Washington, common W. V. Sing Sing, casual. Cambridge, uncommon 

 T. V., Apl. ; Oct. and Nov. 



Nest, on the ground, in grassy marshes. Eggs, four to seven, 1-60 x 1-25. 



This species might well be named Marsh Owl, for, unlike most of 

 our Owls, it does not frequent the woods, but lives in grassy marshes. 

 It is not shy and does not take wing until almost stepped upon, when 

 it arises noiselessly and flies low over the marsh. Sometimes it alights 

 on a knoll or slight elevation and watches the intruder in the intent, 

 half-human manner of Owls. 



During the migrations and in the winter this bird is occasionally 

 found in flocks or colonies containing one or two hundred individuals. 



"Of 101 stomachs examined, 11 contained small birds; 77, mice; 

 7, other mammals ; 7, insects ; and 14 were empty " (Fisher). 



368. Syrnium nebulosum (Forst.). BARRED OWL ; HOOT OWL. (See 

 Fig. 31.) Ad. No ear-tufts; upper parts grayish brown, each feather with 



