RAPTORES. 101 



tured alive, but rarely dead ones are picked up from the 

 surface of the water if the bird is hard pressed for food. 

 I have seen it catch fish so large that it was barely able to 

 get out of the water with its catch. There are instances 

 when the bird has struck so large a fish that, unable to loos- 

 en his hold, he has been drawn under the water and 

 drowned. Large fish have been washed ashore with an Os- 

 prey still clinging to them in death, the claws set too firmly 

 in flesh and scales to be loosened. 



Tt has been stated that where Bald Eagles are found there 

 the Osprey will be also. That has not proved true in the 

 region of Sandusky where the eagles are more numerous 

 than elsewhere in the state. Perhaps the Ospreys have 

 learned to avoid that region. 



SUBORDER STRIGES. Owls. 

 Family STRIGID^E. Barn Owls. 



137. (365.) STRIX PRATINCOLA Bonap. 152. 

 American Barn Owl. 



Synonyms: Strix flammea var. americana, S. flammea, Aluco 



flammeus americanus. 

 Barn Owl, Monkey-faced Owl. 



Kirkpatrick, Ohio Farmer, VIII, 1859, 35. 



"Rare visitor. Not over half a dozen individuals record- 

 ed." (Wheaton.) There has been a very manifest increase 

 in the numbers of this owl since Dr. Wheaton wrote the 

 above quotation. It is now almost common in the southern 

 parts of the state, being even common locally. In the north- 

 ern half of the state it is generally reported as rare. Num- 

 bers of specimens have been taken along the whole lake 

 front. It is resident- every where, and will usually be found 

 in barns and church steeples or similar places where it 

 spends the day, sallying forth at dusk for its daily catch of 

 rats and mice. 



The bird may be known at once by its "monkey face," 

 lack of ear tufts, and bright reddish-brown color. It is 



