256 &YRN1UM NEBULOSUM. 



The Barn Owls are constantly resident wherever they occur but do not appear to be 

 very common anywhere in the section which wo have under consideration, yet, as they 

 are of a retiring dispoistion, they may escape notice. They are southern birds, being rare 

 north of Virginia and are found in Massachusetts and the other New England States only 

 as occasional stragglers. One specimen was taken at Lynn and one or two in the vicin- 

 ity of Springfiold, sorns years ago. 



The breeding habits of the Barn Owls are not very well known; Audubon states that 

 they lay at irregular times throughout the year but my correspondent, Mr. Chas. Nauman, 

 who has spent many years in Florida, says that they nest in March, April, and May. The 

 pair of which I have spoken on the preceding page, .which had a home in the hollow stub, 

 brought out their young in the spring, depositing their eggs about the first of March, while 

 the birds at the old fort appeared to breed in the spring. Thus we may judge that the 

 majority begin their household duties about that time, bringing out, at least, two broods 

 in a season. 



FAMILY II. BUBONIDJL THE HOOTING OWLS. 



Marginal indentations, four, quite wide but deep. Tarsus, short. Eyes, rather large. 

 Facial disk, nearly perfett. 



The marginal indentations are wide and deep but the two inner, are shallower than 

 the outer. The size is usually quite largo. The bill is not very long but is strong. The 

 tarsi are comparatively short and the feet strong. The plumage is rather dark in color 

 and, although soft and lax, is not of that peculiar, downy structure observable in the pre- 

 ceding family. 



GENUS II. SYRNIUM. THE GRAY OWLS. 



GEN. Cn. The sternum is short and well arched, with the coracoids set on at an angle. Furcula, not very well devel- 

 oped. Tail, rather long. There are no ear luffs. 



Members of this genus have the plumage very long and full. The eyes are rather large and dark in color. The sterno- 

 trachealis is stout but there are no other laryngeal muscles. The oesophagus is nearly straight, but is a little wider in the 

 middle, and opens into a medium sized proventriculus with simple glands arranged in a zonular band. The stomach is 

 large, globular in form, with rather thin walls. The coeca are quite long. Both lobes of the liver are nearly equal in size. 

 There are two species within our limits. 



SYENIUM NEBULOSUM. 

 Barred Owl. 



Syrnium nebulosum FOSTER, Trans. Philos. Soc. London, LXII; 1772, 386, 424. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Form, robust. Size, medium. Sternum, stout, rather broad, with the keel well arched, thick, and short, but 

 it reaches the posterior border which is emarginate. The marginal indentations are quite deep. Tongue, thick and 

 fleshy, horny at the tip which is rounded and slightly bifid. 



COLOR. Adult. Above, including rump and upper tail and wing coverts, dusky-brown and all the feathers are trans- 

 versely banded with white. Wings and tail, dusky-brown, transversely banded with brown. Under parts, white, trans- 



