THE BIRDS OF NEW JERSEY. 171 



366 Asio wilsonianus (Lesson). 

 Long-eared Owl. 



Adults. Length, 13-16. Wing, 12. Upper parts, brown, vermiculated with 

 white and varied more or less with rufous or buff; "ear tufts" prominent; 

 under surface, buffy-white, streaked and mottled with brown; face, rufous, 

 black around the eyes ; throat, white ; wing-coverts spotted with white ; tail 

 and wing quills barred with brown. 



Nest usually an old nest of a Hawk or Crow; eggs, four to seven, white, 

 1.55 xl.35. 



A resident, though somewhat irregular in its distribution, and often 

 much more common in winter. 



Their nests have been found at Plainfield and New Providence 

 (Callender) late in May, and as far south as Salem (Crispin), on 

 March 21st, 1908; also at Princeton (Babson). 



At Yardville Miss Rachel Allinson writes me that a colony of Long- 

 eared Owls roosted in the evergreens in her yard regularly from the 

 winter of 1902-3 to that of 1905-6, and sometimes individuals re- 

 mained as late as May 29th. Mr. Babson records a similar gathering 

 at Princeton. 1 



367 Asio flammeus (Pontoppidan). 

 Short-eared Owl. 



Adults. Length, 14-16.50. Wing, 12-13. Upper parts striped with buff and 

 dark brown ; wing quills with white spots ; tail, barred ; under parts, white or 

 buff, streaked with brown ; face, whitish or buff ; eye region, black. 



Nest on the ground in marshy localities ; eggs, four to seven, 1.55 x 1.25. 



This bird is a rather common winter resident in open meadows or 

 marshes, October to March, generally occurring in colonies, the in- 

 dividuals roosting close together among the grass. Mr. W. E. D. 

 Scott 2 reports about two hundred of these Owls at Harlingin Station, 

 near Princeton, in 1878-9. Mr. S. N. Rhoads found a colony on the 

 marshes near Tuckerton in the winter of 1893-4, and I have several 

 times seen them on the Delaware meadows. I know of but three 

 definite records of nests in the State. One with six eggs, near 



1 Birds of Princeton, p. 50. 



2 Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, 1879, p. 83. 



