OTUS VULGARIS. 265 



OTUS VULGARIS. 



Long-eared Owl. 

 Olus vu/yaris Fuon., liritish Animals; 1828, 60. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp.Cn. Form, slender. Size, medium. Sternum, not stout. The marginal'indentations are quite deep. Tongue, 

 rather thick and tlcshy, horny at the tip which is rounded and slijrhty bifid. Ear tufts, long. 



lit. Adult. Above, very dark-brown, with the feathers edged, mottled, spotted, and barred with yellowish- 

 rut Hi-, and as) ly- white. Rump, wholly yellowish-rufous barred with dusky. Wings, dark-brown, burred with yellowish- 

 nit' >u-. which become!) lighter on the inner webs and nearly white, below. Tail, also very dark-brown, widely barred with 



wi-h-rtif >us w!ii.-h becomes nearly white on the lower side. lieneath, including under wing and tail coverts, tibia, 

 and tur-n-. yellowish-white, broadly streaked with dark-brown on the body. There is a prominent spot of dark-brown on 



under wing coverts near the outer edge. The lace is, white mixed with dusky, and a ring of dark-brown entirely sur- 

 rouild- llie eye. 



Y'lun;/. Similar to the adult but show much more rufous on the upper surface while the .same color predominates on 

 the lower portions 



Ni'itt/inr/x. Are at first covered with a yellow down and, in time, gradually assume the second plumage. Iris, yellow, 

 erre. greenish, bill and claws, dark-brown, in all stages. Sexes, similar in Color. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Specimens of the same age and sex are usually quite uniform in color, for Owls, 'f his handsome Owl is readily known 

 from the preceding species by the long ear tufts an 1 dark tints, anil from all others by the long wings, combined witli the 

 i icd. Distributed, as a constant resident, throughout the entire extent of North America, and Ls also found 

 in the Old World. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Avenue measurements of male specimens. Length, 14-50; stretch, 39'50; wing, 12'70; tail, 6*00; bill, '85; tarsus, 

 1-00. Longest -pecimen, 15-00; greatest extent of wing, 4TOO; longest wing, IS'OO; tail, (V20; bill, 1-00; tarsus, 1-75. 

 -t spei -i;iien, 14-00; smallest extent of wing, 37-00; shortest wing, 11-80; tail, 5-80; bill, '70; tarsus, 1-50. 



Average 'iiea-uremcnts of female specimens. Length, 14*75; stretch, 40-00; wing, IS'OO; tail, 6'30; bill, "90; tarsus, 

 I-NI. L mg-'st r.-.V); greatest extent of wing, 40-00; long.-st wing, I.T50: tail, 6-60; bill, 1-10; tarsus, 1'90. 



Shortest specimen, 14-25; smallest extent of wing, 3!)-<K>: shortest wing, 12'50; tail, 6-00; bill, '80; tarsus, T70. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nes/s, not very bulky structures, placed either on the ground, in low bushes, or in trees. They are composed of sticks, 

 twig-. grass, etc., lined with grass and leaves, or occasionally remodeled on the nests of other birds. 



F-ij'jt, fi'ur or live in number, quite elliptical in form, white in color, with the surface very smooth. Dimensions from 

 i-4(i to 1-40x1-66. 



HABITS. 



Although closely allied to the Short-eared Owls in many respects, the birds now in 

 hand, dilfer widely from them in habits. As already shown in the preceding page, the 

 Short-cared prefer the open country but the Long-eared Owls are almost exclusively in- 

 habitants of the woods, seldom being found elsewhere; in fact, they rather choose the 

 darkest swamps in which to roost by day but it is probable that they emerge from these 

 hided retreats by night in order to hunt mice and small birds which form the greater 

 portion of their food. When surprised in these gloomy retreats, they will seldom start but 

 will merely sit perfectly quiet and gaze at the intruder with half-closed eyes, erect ear 

 tufts, and with the feathers drawn closely to the body, which gives them a most grotesque 

 appearance. When captured, they are very gentle, seldom attempting to bite but will 

 rulfle their feathers, expand their wings, and snap their bills fiercely, after the manner of 

 all Owls when annoyed. 



34 



