218 OWLS. 



feathered, buflfy white, unbarml ; eyes yellow. Im. Upper parts as in the 

 ad., but head and back with little or no white ; breast like the back ; belly 

 oehraeeous-bun". L., 8'00 ; W., 5-40 ; t., 2-80 ;. B., -60. 



/.'< markt. Its small size and absence of ears at once distinguish this 

 species frni any < >wl uf eastern North America except .V. t. ricliardnoni^ from 

 which it may be known by its lighter color, streaked instead of spotted head, 

 and unbarred legs and feet. 



Range. North America; breeds from northern New York northward, and 

 migrates southward in winter as far as Virginia. 



Washington, rare W. V., Oct. to Mch. Sing Sing, rather rare W. V., Oct. 

 28 to Jan. 13. Cambridge, not uncommon W. V., Nov. to Mch. 



Rest, in a hole in a tree ; frequently a Woodpecker's, sometimes a Squir- 

 rel's deserted nest. E<t[!*, three to five, 1-19 x. I'OO. 



" The species is not migratory, but is more or less of an irregular 

 wanderer in its search for food during the fall and winter. It may 

 be quite common in a locality and then not be seen again for several 

 years. It is nocturnal, seldom moving about in the daytime, but pass- 

 ing the time in sleeping in some dark retreat. So soundly does it sleep 

 that oftentimes it may be captured alive. . . . 



" During the day it frequents the thick evergreen woods, though 

 sometimes it is found in comparatively open groves, but always in 

 dense trees. . . . 



" The note of this species is peculiar and has a rasping character, 

 resembling the sound made when a large-toothed saw is being filed ; 

 hence the name. It is more often heard during March and early April, 

 though occasionally it is heard at other times of the year. 



"The flight resembles that of the Woodcock very closely so much 

 so, in fact, that the writer once killed a specimen as it was flying over 

 the alders, and not until the dog pointed the dead bird was he awure 

 of his mistake. . . . 



"Of 22 stomachs examined, 17 contained mice; 1, a bird; 1, an 

 insect ; and 3 were empty " (Fisher). 



373. Megascops asio i A/"".'i. S< KKKCH OWL. .(</., ritfm/x /ihage. 

 Size small ; ear-tufts conspicuous, about an incli in length ; upper parts bright 

 rufous, finely streaked with black: under parts white, the feathers centrally 

 streaked with black and irregularly barred with rufous; toes rather scantily 

 feathered ; eyes yellow. <!rii/ /i>i>i*<-. Upper parts generally brownish gray, 

 streaked with black and finely mottled with ochraceous-binT; under parts 

 white, finely streaked ami more finely and irregularly barred with black, 

 more or less bordered by rufous. Ymi/ni. Hntire plumage regularly barred 

 with irruyish or rufous and white. L.. 9-40; W.. 0-40; T., 3-09; B., ;:;. 



//-///'/r/x This bird may lie known by its small size and ear -tufts. Its 

 color phases are not dependent upon air'', sex. or season, and both phases are 

 sometimes represented in the same brood. Between the two there is a com- 

 plete intergradation. 



