BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



145 



The Barn Owl has of late years become rather rare in various sections 

 of Pennsylvania, where formerly, it is said, to have been quite plentiful. 

 I have never found this species breeding" in eastern Pennsylvania. Prof. 

 Gentry, however, who has been more fortunate, says : "In the selection 

 of a place for nesting- purposes, these owls vary in different localities. 

 In eastern Pennsylvania generally a hollow tree, chiefly an apple or an 

 oak is chosen, but, occasionally, a dilapidated and unoccupied barn ; but 

 more rarely, an occupied building in close proximity to man. When the 

 former situations are chosen, the hollow is lined with a few dried grasses 

 and feathers, although instances are not unfrequently met with where 

 the eggs are deposited upon the bare bottom. In the latter places a 

 few rude sticks constitute a framework which is lined with a few fine 

 grasses and feathers. It is deposited upon a short timber in a some- 

 what inaccessible part of the building. Nesting- ordinarily takes place 

 early in March, although we have observed newly-built nests in the lat- 

 ter part of February. Oviposition commences about the second week 

 of March. The number of eg-gs laid varies from three to four, very 

 rarely more. * * The eggs are somewhat subspherical, scarcely 



more pointed at one extremity than the other, unless in exceptional 

 cases ; of a bluish-white color, and measure 1.67 inches in length, and 

 1.37 in width. They vary, however, in size in different localities." 



The following list gives reports received from all observers who have 

 noted the Barn Owl and reported to me the, result of their observations. 

 From this it will be noticed that this owl is found chiefly when breeding 

 in the southern parts of the state. 



COUNTY. 



Allegheny. 



Do. 

 Beaver, . . . 



Berks 



Columbia, . . 

 Clearfleld. . 

 Cumberland. 

 Crawford. . . 

 Chester, . . . 



Do. . . . 

 Dauphin. . . 

 Delaware. . . 

 Fayette, . . . 

 Lehigh. . . . 

 Lebanon, . . 



Do. . . 



Lancaster. 



Do. 



Do. 



Lackawanna, 

 Mercer, . . . 

 Montgomery. 

 Northampton, 



Philadelphia, 

 Somerset. . . 

 Susquehanna, 



Do. 



Do. 



Venango. . . 

 Washington, 



Do. 



Do. 

 York 



Do 



Do. 



OBSERVERS. 



REMARKS. 



R. C. Wrenshall, . . 

 Dr. T. L. Haz/ard, . 

 Dr. G. A. Scroggs, . 



D. F. Keller 



Dr. A. B. MacCrea, 



L. D, Balliet 



T. L. Neff 



H. C. Kirkpatrick, . 



A. P. Lee 



B. H. Warren, . 



W. W. Stoey 



Robert To wnsley, . 

 G. W. Linton, . . . 



J. F. Kocher 



Geo. R. Ross, . . . 



J. G. Bohn 



H. J. Roddy 



Dr. A. C. Treichler, 



James Galen 



Geo. P. E'rlant, . . . 

 S. 8. Overmoyer. . . 

 Thos. S. Gillln, . . . 

 Dr. J. W. Detwiiler. 



Witmer Stone. . 

 B. H. Warren. . . . 

 8. S Thomas. . . . 

 Geo. B. Perry. . . . 

 Dr. H. A. Tm^lcy. . 

 J. R. Robertson. . . 

 Jas. S. Nease, . . . 

 M. Compton. 

 W. T. VVarrick. . . 

 Hon. G. C. Brown. . 



Geo. Miller 



Casper Loucks, . . . 



Rare breeder. 



Resident ; breeds. 



Resident ; breeds. 



Occasional ; possibly breeds. 



Straggler. 



Occasional visitor. 



Resident ; breeds. 



Straggler. 



Breeds occasionally in vicinity of Oxford. 



Probably breeds ; birds taken in spring, summer, fall and whiter. 



Resident ; breeds. 



Breeds. 



Breeds. 



Occasional visitor. 



Rare visitor. 



Rare visitor ; probably breeds. 

 I Breeds. 



Resident ; breeds. 

 j Resident ; breeds. 



j Very rare ; have received two in ten years. 

 I Rare visitor. 



Occasional visitor ; nearly extinct. 



Took one on meadows near Philadelphia ; heard of a pair breed- 

 ing In a church steeple at Lancaster city. 



Occasional visitor. 

 | Saw one January, 1890, near Somerset. 



Rare migrant. 

 J Straggler, 

 1 Rare visitor. 



Rare migrant. 



Simpler; December. 1883. 

 ! Occasional visitor ; December, 1882. 

 | Occasional visitor ; December, 1882. 



Breeds. 

 I Straggler. 



Straggler. 



10 BIRDS. 



