BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 43 



their feet were covered with mud. Just how they obtain these under- 

 ground larvae I have not been able to ascertain, but it would seem that 

 they either scratch them out or are able in some way to locate the spot 

 at which they are hidden and can then capture them by thrusting their 

 claws into the moist soil. 



GENUS POLYBORUS. 



(362) Audubon's Caracara. 



(Polyborus cheriway.) 



Mr. G. E. AtKinson has recorded finding a dead specimen washed up 

 on the north shore of Lake Superior on the i8th of July, 1892. 



SUBFAMILY PANDIONIN^. (OSPREYS.) 

 GENUS PANDION. 



(364) American Osprey. (rush Hawk.) 

 (Pandion haliaetus carolinensis.) 



A common summer resident, breeding in suitable places through the 

 Province. Its nesting places now are in the unsettled parts of the in- 

 terior, where the lakes are still surrounded by trees sufficiently large to 

 meet the bird's requirements. 



Arrives in April, departs at the end of September. 



SUBORDER 'STRIGES. (OWLS.) 

 FAMILY STRIGID^. (THE BARN OWLS.) 



A small family comprising those owls which have long faces, the 

 facial disk being complete and subtriangular. The middle and inner 

 toes are about equal in length and the middle claw is pectinate below. 



GENUS STRIX. 



(*) (3 6 5) American Barn Owl. 



(Strix pratincola.) 



A rare visitor from the south. Five or six specimens of this bird 

 have been met with in southern Ontario. 



FAMILY BUBONID^. (THE HORNED OWLS, ETC.) 



Head very large, shortened lengthwise, and greatly expanded later- 

 ally, the eyes directed forwards and partly surrounded by a more or less 

 complete circular disk of radiating feathers of peculiar texture ; loral 

 feathers antrorse, long and dense ; feathers on the sides of forehead 

 often elongated into earlike tufts. Plumage very soft and lax, rendering 

 the flight almost noiseless ; its colours blended and mottled so as to baffle 

 description. External ear very large, often provided with a movable 



