59 



The Great Gray Owl. 



We find the following interesting 

 description of the great gray owl in 

 one of our exchanges: 



This is one of the largest kind of 

 owl found in America, and perhaps 

 equals any known elsewhere, measur- 

 ing two feet in length, wing 16 to 18 

 inches (from the bend), tail 11 to 12|- 

 The eyes, rather small for the size 

 of the owl, are yellow, the short 

 strong bill and claws paler. The 

 plumage is grayish-brown and gray- 

 ish white in alternate bars, the pale 

 ones widest beneath. The back and 

 breast have more irregular wide 

 stripes of same color, and on the 

 face they form rings. 



From its ashy colors, this species 

 was named nearly a century ago 

 Strix cinerea, and has retained this 

 specific name among naturalists ever 

 since. It inhabits the northern por- 

 tions of America, rarely wandering 

 south of latitude 42°, though no doubt 

 to be found on the lofty mountain 

 ranges of Western America much 

 farther south, and has been reported 

 to occur in the Sacramento valley. 

 Another kind, however of similar 

 plumage, but a fourth smaller (the 

 Western Barred owl), may have 

 been mistaken for this. A paler va- 

 riety, known as the Lapland owl, is 

 found in the most northern parts of 

 Europe and Asia. Like the Ameri- 

 can birds they live in the thinly 

 wooded regions surrounding the 

 Artie circle, within which, the 

 Snowy owl, nearly equal in size, 

 take their place, and as it wanders 

 much farther south in Winter, is a 

 better known kind. 



The Great Gray owl is found 

 throughout the year along the lower 

 Columbia river, and often seen hunt- 

 ing birds, rabbits, etc., toward sun- 

 set or early in the morning, being 

 able to see in a stronger light than 

 those kinds with larger eyes, such 

 as the Great Horned owl. Nests 

 have been found only in tall trees, 



constructed like those of a hawk, 

 and perhaps were old hawks' nests, 

 as other kinds of owls are known to 

 use such nests when they cannot 

 find a suitable hollow tree. The 

 eggs are described in the "History 

 of North American Birds," by Dr 

 Brewer, as being about two and a 

 fourth by one and three-fourth inch- 

 es in size, oblong, oval, and dull 

 white, the number in a nest three 

 or four only. The owl is apparently 

 a very quiet species, no record be- 

 ing given of any cries uttered by 

 them, except that one, kept in con- 

 finement, made a tremulous note 

 like that of the common little cat 

 owl or screech owl smaller than 

 a pigeon. This silence, combined 

 with a perfectly noiseless flight, 

 assists them in surprising their 

 prey, which might otherwise es- 

 cape their daylight attacks. Though 

 not known to prey on domestic 

 fowls, they would no doubt do 

 so in the southern part of 

 their range where fowls, are kept. 

 In Alaska, the Indians often steal up 

 to them when they are asleep and 

 catch them by hand. Even the sav- 

 ages, however, do not often eat 

 fowls, perhaps more from supersti- 

 tious reasons than want of appetite. 



AD YERTISEMENTS. 



In answering Advertisements from these columns 

 please mention The Ornithologist. 



T"p you want to receive free samples circu- 

 •*--^- lars and papers from all over the U. S. and 

 Canada, send 10 <5ts. and have your name entered in 

 Agents' Name Directory. 



G. L. Townsend, Box 134, Pottstown. Penn. 



FOR EXCHANGE. 



A Banjo, good as new except head, Hi 

 inch head six brass brackets, cost $4.50 

 in Austin, for the best offer or bird's eggs 

 or a good Concertina, Will answer the 

 one I accept. 



J. A. SINGLEY, 

 Fedor, Lee Co., Texas. 



Silver and Copper Coins WANTED. 



Send Stamp for revised lists. 



A. T. JOHNSON, Hiawatha, Kansas. 



