BARRED OWL. 257 



imnded alxive the upper hrrast, and longitudinally striped below this, with dusky-brown. Under wing and tail cov- 

 en-, flunks, tihia. nnd tarsus. roddMi-yelluw, the under (nil coverts being striped with dusky and the tarsus mixed with it. 

 The t'.nv is uTiiyish-vvhite haired with dusky and the edge of the facial disk is dark-brown. 



YHUHI/. P.inls in this stage are tinged with reddi-ih-brown above, particularly on the white markings, while the same 

 color pervades heloW. 



,\ <r/ini/s. Are covered with a yi-llow down. Iris, dark-brown, bill, yellow, cere, greenish, claws, horn color, in all 

 > -xcs, similar in color. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



K i lily known from the preceding by the smaller size and yellowish tinging to the feathers, and from other species by 

 the -crihed. The wings and tail are, perhaps, more frequently barred with yellowish than with brown. Spec- 



imen- from Florida are darker than those f rom the Northern States and are strongly tinged with reddish above and below, 

 wliil. of southern birds are quite destitute of feathers. Distributed, as a constant resident, throughout Eastern 



North America. 



DIMENSIONS. 



A\ entire measurements of male specimens. Length, 19'00; stretch , 44-00; wing, 13'00; tail, 8'00; bill, 1-35; tarsus, 

 2-00. Longest specimen, SO'OO; greatest extent of wing, 45'00; longest wing, H'OO: tail, 8'50; bill, 1'45; tarsus, 2'25. 

 Shortest specimen, IT'OO; smallest extent of wing, 43'00; shortest wing, 12'50; tail, 7'00; bill, T25; tarsus, 1'90. 



Avcraire measurements of fciiKile specimens. Length, 20'00; stretch, 45'25; wing, 14'00; tail,8'50; bill, 1'45; tarsus, 

 2-2"'. Linn.'st sp;vi:m-n, 21-00; greatest extent of wing, 4'00; longest wing, 14'50; tail, 9-00; bill, 1-50; tarsus, 2'05. 

 Shortest specimen, 19-00; smallest extent of wing, 44'00; shortest wing, 13'25; tail, 7-50; bill, 1'35; tarsus, 2 00. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed in natural cavities of trees or on the branches. They are either remodeled on the old nests of other birds 

 or compose.! , ('-ticks and twi.ns, lined with ascanty supply of leaves, etc. 



K'/i/.t, three or lour in number, rather oval in form, white in color, with the surface very smooth. Dimensions from 

 H)0x9-00 to l-75x-2-20. 



I1AKITS. 



I have placed the birds now under consideration, among the Hooting Owls and they 

 ( rrtainly proclaim their right to the title, most emphatically, for it would be difficult to 

 find more noisy Owls. They are not only noisy, uttering their notes very frequently, but 

 their cries are loud and are given with startling distinctness. A single prolonged hoot 

 which is a preliminary to a series of lower sounds, is particularly noticeable, especially 

 when heard near at hand, being uttered with such a peculiar intonation as to suggest su- 

 pernatural origin; then, the notes which succeed the first outbreak, are so weird that they 

 are not calculated to dispel the illusion, neither is a sight of the dark gray birds flying 

 swiftly through the foliage on noiseless wings, at all reassuring for, in the dim twilight, 

 nothing could well appear more ghostly to one who is inclined to believe in visitations 

 from the unknown world. How different are the facts in this case from what a morbid fan- 

 cy pictures them. The outcry is but the call of an awakening Barred Owl to its mate for 

 whom he is seeking and for whose benefit he is singing his quaint love song as he goes. 

 To me the notes, although given in a minor tone, are not even disagreeable, but then I 

 have a particular liking for Owls and have at different times, kept almost all of our native 

 species as pets. A pair of Barred Owls which I once had were particular favorites as they 

 were very tame and notably gentle, never attempting to bite when I caressed them. They 

 would take food from my hand and would frequently fly to meet me when I entered the 

 the room in which they were confined. The male was finally killed by a Great Horned 

 Owl after which I gave the female her liberty, a favor which she doubtless appreciated 



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