156 



THE HAWKS AND OWLS OP THE UNITED STATES. 



TaUe showing the results of examinations of 109 stomachs of the Barred Owl 

 (Syrnium nebulosum) — Continued. 



Summary. — Of 109 stomachs examined, 5 contained poultry or game; 13, other birds; 46, mice; 18, 

 other mammals; 4, frogs; 1, a lizard; 2, iish; 14, insects; 2,'8piders; 9, crawfish, and 20 were empty. 



SPOTTED OWL. 



Syrnium occidentale. 



The Spotted Owl, whicli may be considered a western representative 

 of the Barred Owl, inhabits the highlands of Mexico, New Mexico, 

 Arizona, Colorado, California, and Lower California. It was discovered 

 by Xantus near Eort Tejon, Cal., March 6, 1858, and described by him in 

 1859 in the proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Phila- 

 delphia. Not until 1872 was the bird again met with, when Capt. 

 Bendire found it in the southern part of Arizona, where on April 17, 

 1872, he found a nest and one egg, 9 miles west of Tucson. " The nest 

 appears to have been built by Ihe birds themselves. It was composed 

 of small sticks and twigs and lined with dry grasses, pieces of bark, and 

 a few feathers, placed close to the trunk of a large cottonwood tree, 

 about 30 feet from the ground and easily seen from below. One of the 

 parents was sitting on the nest and shot with a rifle after flying off, 

 but not preserved. * * » The specimen sent to Mr. Eidgway was 

 shot some time subsequently to my finding this nest, as I noticed on a 

 critical examination of this bird that it differed from the Barred Owl 

 in its markings." (Ornithologist and Oologist, vol. vii, 1882, p. 99.) 



Mr. L. Belding secured a pair at Big Trees, Calaveras County, OaJ., 

 in the summer of 1880. He says : " Its call resembles the barking of a 



