no 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



common than the paucity of records would lead us to suppose. Its 

 secretive and nocturnal habits fortunately protect it from vulgar and 

 thoughtless interference in many localities, and it has been known to nest 

 for years in secluded towers, belfries, bam attics and hollow trees without 

 its presence being suspected by neighboring inhabitants. Doctor Fisher 

 has shown, by the examination of hundreds of bone and fur pellets disgorged 

 by these owls, that their food is made up almost entirely of mice, and hence 

 that they should be strictly protected. 



Two broods are said to be reared in a season, and eggs in all stages 

 of incubation are frequently found in the same nest. The eggs are from 

 5 to 1 1 in number and average 1.73 by 1.28 inches in dimensions. When 

 disturbed, like other owls it hisses at its tormentor. Bendire mentions 

 a querulous note, " aek, aek, somewhat like the call of the nighthawk "; 

 and Chapman has heard it utter " a wild, startling scream, a high rapidly 

 repeated cr-r-ree, cr-r-ree, cr-r-ree." 



New York records of the ham ovjI 



La Salle 





Ossining 



January 1873 



Near New York 



April 13, 1878 



New York 



April 5, 1 8 78 



Penn Yan 





Flushing 



May 30, 1883 



(4 young in nest) 



Bay Ridge 



Collection L. I. Hist. Soc 



West Hampton 



November ro, 1886 



Cayuga 



About 1886 



Bayport 



September i, 1888 



Troy 



November 19, 1888 



Hecla Works 



Winter 1889 



Buffalo 



f July 5, 1890 

 \ October 3 , i S90 



Troy 



December 3, 1890 



Parkville 



September 10, 1890 



Islip 



February 16, 1891 



Pitcher 



September 13, 1891 



J 



Fisher, 



L. Davison 



B. N. O. C, vol. I, p. 61 

 " F. & S.," vol. II, p. 482 

 Meams, Auk, vol. 7, p. 90 

 Bicknell, B. N. O. C, vol. 3, p. 132 

 Gilbert, Auburn list, p. 26 

 "F. & S.," vol. 7, p. 325 

 Dutcher, Auk, vol. 3, p. 439 

 Beard, Auk, vol. 19, -p. 398 



Dutcher, Auk, vol. 5, p. 180 



Foster Parker 



(Hawkins) Dutcher, L. I. Notes 



Parke, Auk, vol. 7, p. 400 



J. S. Allwood 



Bergtold, Auk, vol. 7, p. 400 



Parke, Auk, vol. 8, p. 114 

 Johnson, Auk, vol. 8, p. 114 

 (Hawkins) Dutcher, L. I. Notes 

 Higgins, Auk, vol. 10, p. 301 



