OWLS. 215 



Wanhington, common I 1 I: /. .muiimn P. R. Cambridge, not 



common I*. K. 



A!<, generally in an old Crow'*, Hawk'*, <>r S.|uirrelV nwt Kyyt, three 

 to aix, 1-65 x 1-80. 



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

 differs from tin- Short-cared Owl iu never hunting during the day- 

 time. It usually s|*-nd> 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 mniv 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 /'''.<. SHORT-EARED OWL. Ad. Ear-tuft* 

 very short, difficult to di*tini;ui.-h in a dried skin; up|-r jmrts fuscous, tho 

 feather* maivinrd with cream-hiitt'or i>ehrace>us-Uirt. imt nmttlrd with whit.'; 

 tail with ochraecous-buff and fuscous bands of about -niul width ; under 

 parts vamnir t'n>iu wliiti.-li to ochraeooiw-burt, tin- bn-ast broadly and the 

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

 7,6-05; B.,1-80. , 



Xangt. 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 N..V. 



n the ground, in grassy marshes. K(fij*< four to seven, 1'60 x 1-25. 



This species might well be nann d Mar-h Owl, for, unlike most of 



our Owls, it does not frequent the w 1<. but liv.-^ in ^ra*>y mar>he>. 



It is not shy and does not take wing until almost step|cd u|>n. 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 on.- c.r two hundred individuals. 



"<>f 101 stomachs examined. 11 contained small birds; 77. mice; 

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



368. Byrnium nebulocum ( . . UKKH < >i. ; H---T OWL. (See 

 Fig. 31.) Ad. ^9 car-tufU ; upj-er parU grayish brown, each feather with 



