194 Bird Studies. 



The general economy and habits seem identical. It is found in Florida 

 and on the coast of the South t Atlantic and Gulf States to Texas. 



A medium sized owl about fifteen inches in length, with conspicuous ear 

 tufts or horns, rather near together, of a general gray color with a strong ad- 

 American Long- mixture of buff and with yellow eyes. Such is the Long- 

 eared Owl. eared Owl. 



Asio wiisonianus (Less.). The upper parts are dusky brown finely mottled with 



white, the bases of the feathers being buff. The facial disc is buffy be- 

 hind the eye and gray in front with a strong admixture of black. The fore- 

 head is dusky finely mottled with white. The ear tufts are dusky brown 

 bordered with buff or gray. The lower parts are gray and grayish buff striped 

 on the breast with dusky. The sides and belly are both striped and barred 

 in an irregular manner with dusky brown, each feather having a dusky line 

 each side of its shaft and several more or less defined cross bars proceeding 

 from it at right angles. 



The birds generally use some abandoned nest of hawk, crow, or squir- 

 rel. Here from three to six white eggs are laid, about an inch and three 

 fifths long and over an inch and a quarter in their other diameter. 



The birds are found throughout North America. They range as far 

 north as Nova Scotia and Manitoba, and breed thence southward to the Gulf 

 States. 



They are mice hunters and are nocturnal in their habits, usually spending 

 the day in dark evergreen woods or cedar swamps. 



The Pigeon Hawk is a true falcon of diminutive proportions, being about 

 twelve inches long, a little larger and heavier than the Sparrow Hawk. This 

 bird is really more of a sparrow and small bird hunter than 

 tTL. the bird that bears the name Sparrow Hawk, birds to 

 the size of a Crow blackbird forming the main part of the 

 Pigeon Hawk's diet. A few mice and other small rodents, as well as some 

 insects, are also eaten by these birds. 



The Pigeon Hawk, in the adult plumage, is grayish blue above, having 

 a more or less distinct brownish red collar or band on the neck. The tail 

 has a white terminal and three or more well defined grayish white bars. The 

 larger wing feathers are barred with white. The under parts vary in differ- 



