92 THE SPARROW OWL. 



These nests have a most ill-conditioned and penetrating odor, which taints the hand which is 

 introduced, and cannot be removed without considerable care and several lavations. The young- 

 are curious little puffs of white down, and the Barn Owl is so prolific that it has been known 

 to be sitting on one brood of eggs while it is feeding the young of a previous hatching. 



As may be supposed from its poj^ular title of White Owl, this species is very light in its 

 coloring. The general color of this bird is buff of different tints, with gray, white, and black 

 variegations. The head and neck are light buff, speckled slightly with black and white spots, 

 and the back and wings are of a deeper buff spotted with gray, black, and white. Tlie tail is 

 also buff", with several broad bai-s of gray. The facial disc is nearly white, becoming rusty- 

 brown towards the eye, and a deeper brown round the edge. The under surface of the male 

 bird is beautifully white, the claws are brown, the beak nearly white, and the eyes bhie-black. 

 The sexes are very similar in their coloring, but the females and young males may be distin- 

 guished by the under surface of the body, which is fawn instead of wliite. 



The American Barn Owl {Aluco Jlavimens) is common to the more southern portions of 

 the United States, especially near the sea-coast, in Mexico and Califoinia. It is rarely seen 

 north of Pennsylvania. 



TnE Saw Whet Owl {Nyctale acadica), called also Acadian Owl. This is rare in New 

 England. Audubon says : " The sound of its love notes bears a great resemblance to the noise 

 produced by the tiling of the teeth of a large saw. These notes, when coming from the depths 

 of the forest, produce a very peculiar effect upon the traveller, who, not being aware of their 

 real nature, expects, as he advances on his route, to meet with shelter under a saw mill at no 

 great distance." This is also called Kirtland's Owl. It seems to have something like a ven- 

 triloquial voice. At times its voice is like the tones of a distant bell. Audubon noticed this, 

 and asserts that he had never heard the like in any other bird. Its voice was as illusive as the 

 aspect of the "will-o'-the-wisp." 



The Little Red Owl {Scops aslo). Several varieties of this little Owl are known. It is 

 called Screech Owl and Mottled Owl. It is entirely nocturnal in habit. Its flight is wonder- 

 fully silent, being quite imperceptible. 



The Sparrow Owl {Nydale ricJiardsoni), named for the Arctic traveller. Dr. Richard- 

 son, inhabits the Arctic regions, but occasionally is seen in New England. It is regarded 

 nearly allied to the Euroijean {N.funerea). Felner's Owl is a Central American bii'd. 



