Birds of Oregon and Washington 195 



He lives and nests in the marshes, and can be 

 seen at nightfall, flying over the marsh, looking 

 for meadow mice, which are shown from scien- 

 tific investigation to make up the bulk of his 

 food. 



There are reports of this bird's habits in these 

 States while rearing its young, that indicate a 

 diet of small birds. It would be well to thor- 

 oughly test the matter on this coast before ac- 

 cepting this statement as a general fact. Dr. 

 Fisher found, on examination of 101 stomachs of 

 this species of owl, that no less than seventy- 

 seven contained the remains of mice. 



The bird nests upon the ground. 



PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. As in General Descrip- 

 tion. Ear tufts, hardly seen ; throat, white ; breast im- 

 mediately below chin, quite thickly streaked with dark 

 brown, with streaks growing fewer and larger below, ap- 

 proaching the feet. Eyes, yellow. 



Nocturnal habits. 



THE SCREECH OWL. 



Permanent resident. 



The name hardly indicates the character of 

 the vocal expression of this bird, which, in 



