OWLS. 



2i;j 



The note of the Fish Hawk is a high, rapidly ropciitcd, phiintivo 

 whistle. 



Family Strioid^e. Baun Owls. 



The Barn Owls, nuniliering some eij;ht or ten species, nre found 

 neiirly tlirinij,'li<>iit the teinpcrnfe imd IrDpica! rcj^ions. Tliey dilTer 

 from ntlii'r Owls in striK'tiire, hut shiire with them the eharaeteristic 

 habits of the sul)order Striiji's. 



366. Striz pratincola Il'imi). Amkukan ISakn Owi.; .Monkey- 

 faced Owl. (Sec Fi;,'. 3o.j Ail. — Upper parts mixed ^'niy uinl ooliriicL'ous- 

 biilf, tiiicly spwklud witli l)la('k uiul wiiite; tail Vinyiiij.' iVoiii wliite to oclira- 

 ceous-ltutl. f^eiKTully uiottiutl witli black, ami soiintiiin's with tlirci- or tour 

 narrow bluek burs; under parts and facial disk varvim,' from pure white to 

 deep oehraefous-hutl, the former jrcnerally with luunerous small, black, numd 

 spots, tlie facial disk narrowly mari^incd by ochraccous-bull or rufous; eyes 

 black. L., IH'Od; \V., l.'i-J.'); T., r)-r)0; ]{., l-:io. 



Haiuji. — North America; occasionally found as far north as Massachu- 

 setts, and breeds from Loul' Island southward throuirh Mexico. 



Washiuirton, not rare !'. \i. Sintr i^im.'. A. V. 



Ac.''/, in a tower or steeple, a hole in a tree or bank. AV^/.v, live t<i nine, 

 1-T'J X \-,W. 



The I?arn Owl eoiuMvils itself so well duriiif^ the day that, in my 

 experience, it is a dinicidt bird to observe, even in localities where it is 

 common. For this reason the capture of one of these ochl-visaged 

 birds is frequently the cause of much excitement over the supposed 

 discovery of an animal entirely new to science, and which, by the local 

 press, is {!;enerally considered half bird, half monkey ! 



The oidy iu)tes I have ever heard from the Hani Owl are a stulden 

 wild, startling scream, a high, rapidly repeated rr-r-rec, cr-r-rer, 

 fr-r-r^e, and, in captive birds, a hissing sound; but Captain Hetulire 

 mentiotis "a feeble, querulous note like (/iidrf,--f}ii(n'li\ or dik-drk, 

 sounding somewhat like the call of the Night Wiwsk {('hurdtilcs vir- 

 gitiinnuft), frequently repeated, only not so loud." 



'•Of 29 stomachs examined. 1 contained poultry; :!. other liirds; 

 17. mice; IT, other mammals; 4, insects; and 7 were emply " (l''isher). 



■•I 



Family Bubonid^e. Horned Owls, Hoot Owls, etc. 



Owls are fotmd in all parts of the world. About two huiulred spe- 

 cies are known, of which some twenty iidudfit North .\merica. Witli 

 few exceptions Owls are woodland birds, but some species live in 

 grassy nuirshes or dry plains, while others make their home in towers, 

 steeples, or outbuildings. Owls arc nocturnal birds of prey, and for 



I 



