OWLS. 217 



370. Scotiaptex clnervom ( Gmtl.). GMUT GRAT OWL. A 



tar- 1 ti P uj-l^-r part* AMCOUM, every whore mottled with white, 



M.I iili littli- r no huffy ; iVml li*k if ray, barred with black; under part* 

 whito, t.roadly streaked, the U-lly and aide* irregularly Unvd 



- aked with fusooiu; Us** and feet heavily feathered; bill and eye* 

 yellow. L., 87-00; W., 17'80; T., 18-00. 



Kanyt. Breedft from llu.l->n Hay northward, and wandcn southward in 

 inti-r to the northern border of the United State*. 

 Cambridtff, v.-ry rare and irregular W. V. 



a* tree*. AV///, two to four, 2-16 x 1-71. 



Dr. Dull nuiMilrrs it u >tu|>il bin!, ami states that sometime* it 

 may be caught in the hands. Ita great predilection for thick woods, 

 in which it dwells doubt l.-s to tin- v.-ry limit of trees, prevents it from 

 being an inhabitant of the barren grounds or other open country in 

 the north. . . . 



"The note of this Owl is said to be a tremulous, vibrating sound, 

 somewhat resembling that of the Screech Owl. . . . 



" Of 9 stomachs examined. 1 contained a small bird; 7, mice; and 

 4 other mammals" (Fisher). 



371. Nyctaia tenpmalmi richardsoni i lionap.). Ri< HARDSOK'S 

 OWL. Ad. Upper part** irniyi-li bpiwn and the head and back tpotttd with 

 white; tail with fuirortive iin|H?rfevt white bar*; under part* white, heavily 

 streaked with jjrayinh brown; legs and feet heavily feathered, whitish, barred 

 with ifrayiith bmwn; eye* yellow. Im. Upper parts dark cinnamon-brown, 

 with a few more or ICM concealed white spot*; tail HW in the ad.; breast 

 like the back ; belly ochraceous-buff. L., 10-00; W., 6*75; T., 4-40. 



Rangt. Northern North America; south in winter to the northern United 

 State*. 



.V*<, in hole* in trees or in old nests of other birds (I). Egy*, three to 

 seven, 1*85 x 1-14. 



Richardson's Owl is nocturnal in its habits, remaining quiet dur- 

 ing the day in the thick foliage of the trees or bushes. In fact, its 

 vision is apparently so affected by bright light that many specimens 

 have been captured alive by persons walking up and taking them in 

 their hands. On this account the Kskimo in Alaska have given it the 

 name of 'blind M.-.' 



"The song of this Owl, according to Dr. Merriam (Bull. Xuttall 

 Ornith. Club, vol. vii, 1883, p. 287), is a low, liquid note that resem- 

 bles the sound produced by water slowly dropping from a height" 

 (Fisher). 



372. Nyctal* acadlca, <;mt.) BAW-WIIKT OWL; ACADIAN OWL. 

 .11. Upper part* durk fiiiniiMioii-brown, the head finely ttrtattd, the back 

 tpttttd with white ; tail with three or four imperfect whit* barn ; under parts 

 white, heavily streaked with cinnamon-brown or dark rufous ; legs and feet 



