312 OWLS 



rapid hoots, while the other, in a slightly higher tone, hoots half as fast, 

 both performers ending together with a whoo-ah. At times they utter a 

 single; prolonged whoo-ah, and more rarely a weird, gasping shriek, 

 emphasized at its conclusion like a cry of distress. 



"Of 109 stomachs examined, 5 contained poultry or game; 13, 

 other birds; 46, mice; 18, other mammals; 4, frogs; 1, a lizard; 2, fish; 

 14, insects; 2, spiders; 9, crawfish; and 20 were empty" (Fisher). 



368a. S. v. alleni Ridgw. FLORIDA BARRED OWL. Similar to the pre- 

 ceding, but averaging somewhat darker, and with the toes nearly naked. 

 W., 12-50; T., 8'50. 



Range. Coast strip of S. Atlantic and Gulf States from e. Tex. to Fla. 

 and S. C. 



Nesting date, San Mateo, Fla., Jan. 5. 



370. Scotiaptex nebulosa nebulosa (Forst.). GREAT GRAY OWL. 

 Ads. No ear-tufts, size very large; upperparts fuscous, everywhere mot- 

 tled with white, and with little or no buffy; facial disk gray, barred with 

 black; underparts white, the breast broadly streaked, the belly and sides 

 irregularly barred and streaked with fuscous ; legs arid feet heavily feathered ; 

 bill and eyes yellow. L., 27'00; W.. 17'5(); T., 12'00. 



Range. Boreal N. A. Breeds in Hudsoiiian and upper Canadian zones 

 from tree limit in cen. Alaska and nw. Mackenzie s. to cen. Alberta and cen. 

 Keewatin; winters in the s. Canadian Provinces, straggling to n. Calif., 

 Wyo., Nebr., Minn., Ind., Ohio, n. N. J., N. Y., and New England. 



Cambridge, very rare and irregular W. V. SE. Minn., rare W. V. 



Nest, in trees. Eggs, white, 2-4, 2' 16 x 1*71: Date, Buffalo Lake, 

 Alberta, Apl. 10 (Norris). 



"Dr. Ball considers it a stupid bird, and states that sometimes it 

 may be caught in the hands. Its great predilection for thick woods, 

 in which it dwells doubtless to the very limit of trees, prevents it from 

 being an inhabitant of the barren grounds or other open country in 

 the north. . . . The note of this Owl is said to be a tremulous, vibrat- 

 ing sound, somewhat resembling that of the Screech Owl. . . . 



"Of 9 stomachs examined, 1 contained a small bird; 7, mice; and 

 -1, other mammals" (Fisher). 



371. Cryptoglaux funerea richardsoni (Bonap.). RICHARDSON '.s 

 ( WL. Ads. Upperparts grayish brown, both the head and back spotted with 

 v bite; tail with four or five imperfect white bars; underparts white, heavily 

 s'roaked with grayish brown; legs and feet heavily feathered, whitish, barred 

 vsith grayish brown; eyes yellow. ' Im. Upperparts dark cinnamon-brown, 

 uith a few more or less concealed white spots; tail as in the ad.; breast 

 like the back; belly ochraceous-buff. L., lO'OO; W., 6'75; T., 4'40. 



Range. N. N. Am. Breeds in Hudsonian and upper Canadian zones 

 from limit of trees in cen. Alaska and n. cen Mackenzie s. to n. B. C., 

 n. Alberta, and Magdalen Islands; s. in winter to s. Canada but rare east- 

 ward; casual s. to Ore., Colo., Nebr., Ills., Pa., and New England. 



Cambridge, very rare W. V. 



Nest, in holes in troos (and in old nests of other birds?). Eggs, white, 

 3-7, 1'35 x 1'14. Date, Ft. Simpson, Mack., May 7. 



"Richardson's Owl is nocturnal in its habits, remaining quiet dur- 

 ing the djvy ii! tlic thick foliage of the trees or bushes. In fact, its 

 vision is apparently so affected by bright light that many specimens 



