BIRDS OF 



attention of Dr. Gamier, of Lucknow, to these facts, he 

 mentioned having seen one several years before near where he 

 lives, and from Mr. C. J. Bampton comes a report of his having 

 seen two individuals near Sault St. Marie. Compared with 

 the British Barn Owl, the American species is a little larger, 

 but by many they are regarded as identical. The British bird 

 is noted for its partiality for ruinous church towers and other 

 lonely places. Strange to say, Mr. Reid's specimen was killed 

 in the cemetery, while one of those seen by Mr. Bampton was 

 perched on the cross on the spire of the Catholic church. 



It has a sharp inquisitive visage, and is said to be an expert 

 mouser. In Ontario it can be regarded only as an accidental 

 visitor from the south. 



FAMILY BUBONID^. HORNED OWLS, ETC. 



GENUS ASIO BRISSON. 



148. ASIO WILSONIANUS (LESS.). 366. 

 American Long-eared Owl. 



General plumage above a variegation of dark-brown, fulvous and whitish, 

 in small pattern ; breast more fulvous, belly whiter, the former sharply 

 striped, the latter striped and elaborately barred with blackish ; quills and 

 tail mottled and closely barred with fulvous and dark-brown ; face pale, 

 with black touches and eye patches ; bill and claws blackish. Ear-tufts of 

 8-12 feathers. Length, 14-15 ; wing, 11-12 ; tail, 5-6. 



HAB. Temperate North America. 



Nest of sticks loosely put together, lined with a few feathers, variable as 

 to situation, frequently in a thick evergreen. 



Eggs, 4 to 6 ; round, white. 



The Long-eared Owl is strictly nocturnal in its habits, 

 and is seldom seen abroad by day, except when disturbed in its 

 retirement among the evergreens. So far as I have observed, it 

 is not a common species in Ontario, but from its retiring habits 

 it may be more so than we are aware. Those observed near 

 Hamilton have been found in the fall, the season when birds of 

 all kinds wander away from their summer resort, before retiring 

 south to spend the winter. Along the sea coast it is more 



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