North American Birds Eggs- 177 



They also often nest in barns or other old buildings which are not frequented too 

 freely. Their food consists chiefly of mice and meadow moles, with occasionally 

 small birds. During April or May they lay their white eggs, the full comple- 

 ment of which is from five to eight. Size 1.35 x l.liO. The nesting liabits of all 

 the sub-species, as far as we can learn, are exactly like those of tfie eastern 

 Screech Owl; the eggs cannot be distinguished, and in most cases, even the 

 birds cannot be distinguished. 



3 7 3a. Florida Screech Owl. MrgaHcapit asio tloriilnnu^. 



Range. — South Atlantic and Gulf coasts. 



Slightly smaller and darker than nsio. The eggs average slightly smaller. 

 Size 1.30 X 1.15. ' .^ . . 



373b. Texas Screech Owl. Megascope ajtiii mrcfdli. 



Range.— Texas, and southward into Mexico. Very similar to iUirUUt inia. 



373c. California Screech Owl. 3Iegascops anio hnidiiri. 



Range. — Coast of California and Oregon. Size of, liut darker than iisio. 



37 3d. Kennicott Screech Owl. McgaxciqiH r/.s/o kciniinittii. 



Range.— Pacific coast from (iregon to Alaska. This is the darkest of the 

 Screech Owls and averages a trifle larger than the eastern form. 



373e. Rocky Mountain Screech Owl. Megusnipx axin mii.nrellin . 



Range. — Foothills of the Rockies, from Colorado to Montana. This is tlie 

 palest form of tlie Screecli Owl. Of the same size as the last. 



3 7 3f. Mexican Screech Owl. Jlrgascopx asia (■'nieriireiix. 



Range. — Western Mexico and soutliwestern border of the United States. A 

 gray form with little or no buff, and more numerously barred lielow. 



373g. Aiken Screech Owl. Megaxrops a-sio aikriii. 



Range. — Fl Paso County, Colorado. A gray form, with the dark markings 

 coarser and more numerous than in any other. 



373h. MacFarlane Screech Owl. Megaaropx asio marlarlfinei. 



Range. — Northern ))order of the United States from Washington to Montana. 



373 I. Spotted Screech Owl. Megasropx tn'rhopsis. 



Range. — Mountains of southern Arizona, south into Mexico. 



A grayish species, similar to a.s-?V), but paler and more finely barred beneath, 

 and with wliitish spots on the feathers of the foreback. The nesting habits and 

 eggs are probably the same as those of the Screecli Owl. 



13 



