OWI.S. 



*. Kanti-ni North Amerien, northward t. New Ilruriswi<-k and Mm 

 nenou; generally nwident throughout it- 



\Vai>hiii|rt<>ii, eotiiiiKHi I'. K. Blag Slog, OOOUDOO I'. K. Cmnliriilcc, com- 

 mon I'. K. 



.rriieraUy in ln>llow true. Kn-j*, four to six, 1-55 x I'M. 



Tin- STiHt-h Owl frequently makes its home near our dwellings, 

 :iietimes >clects a convenient m<k in them in which to lay its 

 eggs. But its favorite retreat i- un old apple orchard, where the hollow 

 limb* offer it a secure refuse from the mobs uf small liinls which are 

 uly to at tack it. A search in the trees of an orchard of this kind 

 rarely faiN t rc.-ult in the discovery of one or more of these feathered 

 inhabitants who may have refilled then' f.>r years. They attempt to 

 escape capture by a show i if resistance and a castanetlike cracking of 

 the bill. lut when brought from their hiding place sit quietly, dazzled 

 for a moment by the sudden light. They then elongate themselve- 

 and almost close their eyes, thus rendering themselves as inconspicuous 

 M possible. How differently they ap|Mar when the western sky fades 

 and thru- day begins! Is any bird more thoroughly awake than a 

 hungry Screech Owl i With ear-tufts erected and his great, round ey. > 

 opened to the utmost. h*' is the picture of alertness. 



When niu'ht comes one may hear the Screech Owl's tremulous, 

 wailing whistle. It is a weird, melancholy call, welcomed only by 

 those who love Nature's voice whatever be the medium through which 



. 



"Of 255 stomachs examined, 1 contained poultry; 38, other birds; 

 01, mice; 11, other mammals ; 2. lizards: 4. batrachians; 1, fish ; 100, 

 insects: ">, spiders; 9, crawli-h: 7. miscellaneous; 2, scorpion-: -, 

 earthworms; and 43 were empty" (Fisher). 



373%. Mr *. flo^da"" ///./;/. >. KI.OICIH\ S. KKK n (>wi.. Mu.-li 

 like the jireeedinif. but siuiiller. with the e..lors deejier uii-1 markings of the 

 un.ler parts heavier. W.. 546 : T .. -J-". 



ri.ln nri'l (iulf eoost n-k'i" to Louisiana. 



376. Bubo vlrffinianua '.'"'. <JI:K\T H..I:VKI> <>wi.. .{-/. Sire 



.^.ieuoij,. nmrly two in. -lies iii length ; iipf>er parts inottl-<l 



with varying - but! and blm-k ; tu.-ial .li>k iH'hracfOUii- 



burt: ear tun\t blaek nn.l m-hraee-His-butr; awhile pat.-h mi the throat, rt 



of tin- un.ler parts i.ehnieeou-butV. bunv.l with lila.-k ; li^'s mul tVct fi-ath- 



. y.-s yellow. I... -J.""": W., l.V0; T., 8'SO; B., l'0. 



, North Amerieu; northward to Labrador and Routh ward 

 :i; resident thp.tii'hout its r., 



Wanhinirtoti. rnre I'. K. Sin-/ Simr. tol.nil.lv eoimnon I'. K. CniiihriclifO, 

 Oflflaniotisl at all nea*on*. 



rally in an old Crow 1 *, HawkX or SquirrelV nt. Eggt^ two to 

 throe, 2-80 x 1-80. 



