214 



OWLS. 



this reason feed more largely on snmll mamninls— most of which are 

 nocjiiniiil — timn the diurnal birds of prey. They are therefore of 

 even greater value to the iij^riculturist than lluwks. 



Their prey is captured with tlu-ir talons, ami, unless too larjje, is 

 swalhnved entire. The bones and hair are aflerwaril ejected at the 

 mouth in matted pellets. 



Owls' eyes are so fixed in their sockets that they can not lof)k from 

 one point to another by simply " rollinj?" the eyeball, but are obliged 

 to turn tlieir head. The weird, almost liunuin, voi(;es of Owls add not 

 a little to the superstitious fear with which they are fretjuently re- 

 garded. The eggs of Owls are unifonnly while, unmarked. 



KKV To TIIK SI'KCIE8. 



I. Win;.' over 10-00. 

 A. Hclly without burs, stripcil loiijfitudimilly. 

 rt. L'luicr jxirts with cross- burs. 



aK Tois tVutlurcd 3(58. Barued Owl. 



«'. Toes l)uri' 3<i8«. Fi.ouida HAitaEii Owl. 



f). rp]H'r parts striiH'il loiiu'itiiilinally .... 'M7. Suout-kaukd Owl. 

 7>. Helly witli cross-lmrs. 



a. Witli conspicuous horns or ciirs. 



«>. Willi: over l.'VOO STo. Giieat IIuunkd <^wl and races. 



(fl. Willi: under I'.von 'Mi). Am. Lo\ti-KAUKi» Owl. 



b. Witiiout iionis or cars. 



i'. i'liiiiiai;c white, more or li'ss barred with bhick. 37ti. Snowy Owl. 

 i*. riuiuagc fuscous, mottled and barred with wiiitisb. 



370. GuKAT GuAV Owl. 

 II. Win<: under 10-00. 

 A. Toes heavily t'catliered. 

 a. Wiiitr more tliun 000. 



«'. Tail more tliau f.oo 377^. Am. Hawk Owl. 



(fl. Tail less than O-Oo .■?71. Riciiakdsox's Owl. 



h. Will;: less than (iOO 37".i. Saw-wukt Owl. 



71 Toes tliinly, if at all, feathered. 



a. Tarsi heavily feathered ; witii conspicuous horns. 



37''>. S(UEK( 11 Owl. 373(/. Fi.oimda Scheecu Owl. 



b. Tarsi partly bare; no horns . . . 378r/. Fi.ouida UruKowma Owl. 



I 



1 1'^ 

 IP 



366. Asio urilsonianuB ( /.(-a.'.). American Lono-eared Owl. Aif. 

 — Kar-tufts coiisjticuous, an iucli or more in lunj:th, black bordered by white 

 and imtfy ; upper i)arts fuscous-brown mottled witii wliite, the liases of the 

 fcatiiers ochraccous-butf ; tail with six to eij:ht fuscous cross-bars; facial disk 

 liutiy bordered by black ; under parts mixed white and ochraceous-butf, tlie 

 breast broiully streaked, the sides antl belly irrei:ularly burred with fuscous; 

 eyes yellow. L., U-80; W., ll-OO; T., (J-OO; B., I'Oii. 



RaiKje. — North Americu ; breeds from Movu Scotiu uud Manitoba south- 

 ward to the Gulf Stutea. 



