SCREECH OWL. 
(Scops a‘sio.) 
ENGTH 8 to 10 inches. Upper parts brownish gray 
in dappled pattern of lighter and darker shades, finely 
streaked with black. Wing-quills dusky, the outer webs 
with several white or buff spots. Lining of wing yel- 
lowish white. Under parts white streaked and blotched with 
wavy crossbars. Iris, yellow; bill, slate gray; claws, blackish. 
Nestlings are covered with white down. Eastern United 
States and Canada to the Rocky Mountains. Breeds about 
buildings, in stumps and hollow trees. Food mice, small birds 
and insects. Nest a slight structure in the hollow selected. Eggs 
five to six, white, subspherical. 
“Artist” was again up betimes and had perched a 
very wise looking owl on a dead branch of atree with 
the moon shining behindhim. Miss Sweet was so much 
pleased that she left the picture on the black board un- 
til after the Friday afternoon exercises that some of the 
parents might see it. 
Several of the pupils had never seen a Screech Owl, 
and knew him only by his voice, and had, therefore, a 
poor opinion of him as a bird. Others had a better ac- 
quaintance with him and admired his beautiful plum- 
age, and spoke of the almost human look he has as he 
41 
