North American Birds IiIggs. 



175 



often in deserted Crows' nests. The nesting season is from February in the south 

 to April in the northern parts of their range. They hiy from two to four pure 

 white eggs, averaging considerably smaller than those of the Great Horned Owl; 

 size 1.95 X 1.65. 



368a. Florida Barred Owl. Sijrniam varium aUeni. 



Range.— Florida and the Gull States; north to South Carolina. 



A slightly smaller, and darker variety of the Barred Owl. Its habits and nest- 

 ing habits are the same except that it generally breeds in January and February, 

 and lays but two eggs, which are smaller than those of the ])receding; size 1.90 

 X l.tiO. 



368b. Texas Barred Owl. Syrnium varium helvenl.um. 



Range. — Southern Texas. 



A very similar but slightly paler variety than the Barred Owl, and with the 

 toes bare, as in uUeiii. Eggs indistinguishable. 



369. Spotted Owl. Syrnium occidentale. 



Range. — Western United States, from southern t»regon and Colorado, south- 

 ward. 



Similar to the Barred Owl but spotted, instead of barred, on the l)ack of head 

 and neck, and much more extensively barred on the under parts. The nesting 

 habits do not appear to differ in any respect from those of the eastern Barred 

 Owl, and their eggs which are from two to four in numl>er, can not be distin- 

 guished from those of the latter species; sixe 2.05 x 1..S1). 



369a. Northern Spotted Owl. Syrnium orcidciitdlc rdiirimim. 



Radge. — Northwestern United States and British Cohmiliia. 

 Similar to the preceding, but darker, both above and below; nesting thesame, 

 in hollow trees or in old Hawk's or Crow's nests. Eggs not distinguishable. 



370. Great Gray Owl. Scnticqitcx neli- 

 ulosa. 



Range. — Northern North America; 

 wintering regularly south to the north- 

 ern border of the United States and 

 casually farther. 



This is the largest of American Owls, 

 being about L'6 inches in length; it 

 does not weigh nearly as much, how- 

 ever, as the Great Horned or Snowy 

 Owls, its plumage being very light 

 and fluffy, and dark gray in color, 

 mottled with white. The facial disc is 

 very large, and the eyes are small and 

 yellow, while those of the Barred Owl 

 are large and blue back. They nest in 

 heavily wooded districts, building 

 their nests of sticks, chiefly in pine 

 trees. The two to four white eggs are laid during IVIay and June; size 2. 



r White. J 



15x1.70. 



