532 The Roller-like Birds 



species the Spotted Owl (S. occidentale) from the tablelands of Mexico 

 northward into the contiguous states of the United States. A subspecies of 

 the latter, known as the Northern Spotted Owl (S. o. caurinum), occurs in 

 western Washington and British Columbia. Their habits are presumably 

 similar. 



European Tawny or Wood Owl. Of the Old World species the Tawny 

 or Wood Owl (5. aluco) is well known, inhabiting Europe generally as well as 

 the Mediterranean countries of Africa, and exhibiting among other characters 

 a barred or mottled head and the toes completely feathered. The upper parts 

 are ashy gray mottled with brown, while the lower parts are grayish white streaked 

 with brownish black. It is a resident species wherever found, frequenting woods 

 and forests, and is mainly nocturnal in its habits, feeding largely on small mam- 

 mals, birds, insects, and occasionally fish and frogs. The nest is usually placed 

 in a hollow tree, sometimes an old ruin, a disused chimney, or old nest of Hawk 

 or Crow. The eggs, deposited in March, are three to five in number and pure 

 white. Toward the east, in Asia, China, India, and .the Malay Archipelego, 

 the species become more numerous, and the African continent possesses some 

 six or eight. 



Great Gray Owl. Formerly included in the last genus are two splendid 

 Owls that are now referred to a separate genus (Scotiaptex), on the ground of 

 their larger size, relatively smaller bill, eyes, and feet, and much broader facial 

 disk. As in certain of the Barred Owls, the toes are entirely covered with feathers. 

 Of these the Great Gray Owl (5. cinerea) is a handsome bird of Arctic America, 

 extending as far north apparently as the limit of trees, and coming south in 

 winter to the northern border of the United States. It is from twenty-five to 

 thirty inches in length and has a spread of wings of between fifty-four and sixty 

 inches. In color it is dusky grayish brown and grayish white, varied both above 

 and below with irregular dark markings. It frequents the thicl& woods of the 

 north, and is regarded by some as being a rather stupid bird, sometimes per- 

 mitting itself to be taken in the hand without protest, although in defense of 

 the nest it is said to be fierce enough. Its flight appears to be heavier and more 

 labored than is usual among Owls, yet on this point there are differences of 

 opinion. In the southern part of its range it is crepuscular or slightly nocturnal ; 

 but at the north, where during the short Arctic summer the sun never sinks 

 below the horizon, it is by force of circumstances abroad in daylight. Its food 

 consists principally of hares, mice, and small birds, and presumably its great 

 size permits it to capture Ptarmigan, Grouse, and other large birds. The nest, 

 of large sticks and lined with feathers, is placed in a tall spruce or poplar, and 

 the eggs are from two to four in number. 



Lapp Owl. In the northern parts of Europe and Asia the above species 

 is replaced by a lighter-colored but otherwise closely allied form known as the 

 Lapp Owl (S. c. lapponica), which sometimes strays into western Alaska along 

 the shores of Norton Sound. It is said to be a very rare bird, inhabiting the 

 large forests of the high north and rarely straggling down into the northern 

 parts of central Europe. 



