MOTTLED OWL. 271 



a-; both plumages arc found equally coiunion ln>tli North and South. Parents of the same color will produce young which 

 are in both -ta^cs of plumage and, if one parent chances to be gray and the other red, or vice versa, the young may he all 

 red or all gray, or part oTthe number red and the remainder gray, or individuals among them may assume the intermediate 

 stage; in short, there appears to tie absolutely no rule by which these changes can be determined. No one, however, will 

 mistake this well-k;nnvn Owl fir any other species, for the small size, compact form, and prominent ear tufts, together 

 with the colors as described will serve to distinguish it. There is a rather small Florida form of this species but they do 

 iiu t differ much from more Northern Owls, excepting in being a little darker, for I have found all the stages described, as 

 common there as they are in Massachusetts. Distribute 1, as a constant resident, throughout North America to the Arctic 

 Circle. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Dimensions of specimens from Massachusetts and Florida. Average measurements of males. Length, 8'50; stretch, 

 20-00; wing, (MO; tail, 3"25: hill, -7.1; tarsus, 1'25. Longest specimen, !>'KO; greatest extent of wing, 21-00; longest wing, 

 7'00; tail, 3 50; bill, '80; tarsus, I'M. Shortest specimen, 8'00; smallest extent of wing, 18-00; shortest wing, 5'4)5; tail, 

 2!M>; bill, ->->; tarsus 1'05. 



Average measurements of female specimens. Length, 9'OH; stretch, 23*50; wing, 6'25; tail, 3-00; bill, '85; tarsus, T40. 

 Longc-t s] imen, 9'50; greatest extentof wing, 23'85; longest wing, 7'30; tail, 3'55; bill, '90; tarsas, I- 50. Shortest spec- 

 imen, 8-50; smallest extent of wing, 21-50; shortest wing, 5-00; tail, 2'55; bill, '80; tarsus, 1-30. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, place! in holes of trees, not elaborately constructed, composed of grass, leaves, etc.; or the eggs are often placed 

 on any material which chances to be at the bottom of the hole. 



Eyys, from New Knglnml, four to six in number, rather spherical in form, pure white in color, with the surface very 

 smooth. Dimensions from 1-20x1-45 to 1*40 x l"60. The number of eggs deposited in Florida is seldom, if ever, more 

 than three. They are of a similar form to those from further North but are considerably smaller, measuring 1'lOx I- 30 to 

 1 15x1-40. 



HABITS. 



The Mottled Owls are among the most abundant of the order in North America, yet 

 their habits are scarcely known to the majority of the people among which they dwell; in- 

 deed, ornithologists are, as a rule, not familiar with these birds, judging from the state- 

 ments which they have made concerning them and, until quite recently, even the various 

 stages of plumages assumed by them, were not well understood. Now I do not mean to 

 intimate that I possess any more sagacity than my colaborers when I make the above as- 

 sertions, for I have doubtless made more or less mistakes, though unwittingly, in reference 

 to what I have said about some birds, but in regard to the species now under consideration, 

 I feel as if I had the subject well in hand as there has scarcely been a time for the past 

 ten or twelve years, when I did not have a Mottled Owl as a pet and, as I write, a fine 

 male is sitting on his accustomed roost near, gazing wisely at me out of a pair of bright 

 yellow eyes. 



I have begun my article by saying that the Mottled Owls were very abundant and 

 they are much more numerous than any one would suppose who has not searched for them. 

 They are very retiring in habit, living in holes throughout the day almost exclusively; in 

 fact, it is rare to find one sitting on a tree and, with all my experience with the species, 

 I do not think that I have seen a dozen specimens in such an exposed situation. They 

 are quite timid and Scopsie, my pet Owl, when frightened, will fly to his box and dart in- 

 to it; thus the habit of seeking protection in holes appears to be instinctive. When the 

 Mottled Owls are surprised outside their domiciles during daylight, they will half close 

 their eyes, raise their ear tufts, draw their feathers close to their body, appearing exactly 





