RAPTORES. 105 



certain authors, especially the earlier ones, charge the bird 

 with destruction to poultry, game, and small birds, such de- 

 structive habits are comparatively uncommon. That it 

 does occasionally make inroads upon poultry yards, and 

 does more or less damage among game birds, is true; 

 but the systematic collection and examination of a large 

 number of stomachs show the exceptional character of such 

 acts and reveal the fact that the larger part of the food 

 consists of mammals. And it is to be noted that among the 

 list are some of the most destructive rodents the farmer 

 has to contend with. If a fair balance is to be struck, there- 

 fore, it must be considered that this Owl is on the whole 

 beneficial, and hence should occupy a place on the Hst of 

 birds to be protected." (Fisher.) 



141. (370.) ScoTiAPTEx NEBULOSA (Forst.). 156. 



Great Gray Owl. 



Synonyms: Syrnium cinereum, Ulula cinerea, S. lapponicum 

 var. cinereum, Strix cinerea. Scotiaptex cinerea. ' 

 Spectral Owl. 



Kirkpatrick, Ohio Farmer, VIII, 1859, 107. 



The records given by Dr. Wheaton remain the only ones 

 for the state. They are : Mr. Kirkpatrick, Huntsburg, Ge- 

 auga county; and Mr. Charles Dury, Clarke county. It 

 must therefore be regarded as a casual visitor. 



142. (372.) Nyctala acadica (Gmel.). 157. 



Saw-whet Owl. 



Synonyms: Nyctale acadica, Strix acadica, Ulula acadica. 

 Acadian Owl. 



Audubon, Orn. Biog., II, 1834, 537. 



This little owl, the smallest of the group in Ohio, is al- 

 most wholly a winter resident in the state, breeding only 

 rarely in the northern counties. It is probably more numer- 

 ous than the reports show, for it is the most strictly noctur- 

 nal of the owls, and therefore seldom seen. Its small size 

 is also a good protection from prying eyes. Like the Barred 

 Owl, it has no ear tufts. It seems partial to evergreen 



