94 STRIGIDiE : OWLS. 



BARRED OWL. 



Strix nebulosa Forst. 



Chars. Resembling the last in form, but much smaller, and other- 

 wise easily distinguished. Length, about 18.00 ; extent, 40.00 ; 

 wing, 14.00 ; tail, 9.00. Upper parts ashy-brown, barred with 

 white and tinged with fulvous ; under parts similar, but lighter, 

 the markings in cross-bars on the breast, elsewhere in streaks ; 

 the wings and tail barred with brown and white, ashy, or tawny. 



A rather common resident species in New England, 

 generally inhabiting thick woods, and not so frequently 

 coming under observation as some of the others. It 

 may easily be recognized by its similarity in form to the 

 Gray Owl, having the same large smooth head and im- 

 mense facial discs ringed with light and dark colors, in 

 connection with its much smaller size and barred breast. 

 The hooting outcry is also characteristic. The numbers 

 of the birds appear to decrease with the clearing off of 

 the forests to which they are so much attached, but 

 these Owls are still numerous. The nest will be found 

 in the hollow of a tree, or high up in a crotch ; the eggs, 

 to the number of three or four, are white and spheroidal, 

 measuring about two inches in length by one and two- 

 thirds in breadth ; they are usually laid in April. The 

 food of the species, as of others of the family, consists 

 of small quadrupeds, birds, and insects. 



SNOWY OWL. 

 Nyctea scandiaca (Z.) Newt. 



Chars. Of large size ; nearly 2 feet long ; wing, 17 inches ; tail, 9 

 or 10. The head is apparently smooth, but there are really small 



