BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 205 
They usually have three eggs. Their color is exceedingly 
variable, part of those I have in my possession being much 
darker and more extensively blotched than others. But IL 
should call the average reddish-brown with a creamy shade. 
Almost universally distributed throughout the State this 
hawk is nowhere abundant, Mr. Washburn found them only 
“‘sub-common” at Mille Lacs, although I am inclined to think 
he would have found more of them a little later in the season, 
as the young would then have been full grown, and on the 
wing or ‘‘fishing” along the shores of the lake. 
They linger in autumn as late as the fishing remains good 
which is nearly November, but as the waters in the streams 
and lakes become colder, the fish seek the deeper places, and 
thus are out of the way of this their great enemy. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Wings long; legs, toes and claws very robust and strong. 
Head, and entire under parts white; stripe through the eye, 
top of head and upper parts of body, wings and tail, deep 
umber brown, the tail having about eight bands of blackish- 
brown; breast with numerous cordate, and circular spots of 
pale yellowish-brown; bill and claws bluish-black; tarsi and 
toes greenish yellow. 
Length (female), 25; wing, 21; tail, 10.50. 
Habitat, North America. 
Family STRIGID. 
STRIX PRATINCOLA BONAPARTE. (865. ) 
AMERICAN BARN OWL. 
In 1858 I was informed that the Barn Owls were never seen 
in Minnesota, and after many years observation of the birds I 
came to the conclusion that those who had been here before me 
were right, when I obtained one specimen of the female. and 
then another long period passed before I saw another that had 
been shot by a man in the maple woods in the vicinity of Park- 
er’s Lake. Again several years passed, and I heard of some 
having been obtained, but had some doubts as to the identity, not 
having seen the birds; but before very long I began to get one sent 
me occasionally, and I had the pleasure of obtaining some my- 
self, and getting statements from one or two persons who were 
eompetent and reliable, who described them correctly, when I 
received a carefully detailed description of the young which I 
