192 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



Mr. Samuel C. Evans writes that along the Santa Ana River are 

 high banks, perforated with holes, in which these owls nest. The 

 eggs are often found in various stages of incubation in the same nest — 

 some fresh and others nearly hatched. The nests are scantily sup- 

 plied with a few sticks, straw, bones and other refuse of food. The 

 number of eggs deposited by the Barn Owl ranges from five to eleven, 

 rarely the latter number ; some writers say three to ten. I know of 

 several authentic sets of eleven. Their color is plain, dead white ; their 

 shape ovate. Six specimens measure 1.75x1.35, 1.67x1.30, 1.79 x 

 1.33, 1.67x1.34, 1.72x1.35, 1.68x1.29. Twenty-eight specimens have 

 an average size of 1.74 x 1.30. The largest egg of the Owl of which I 

 have any record is in the collection of Joseph M. Wade, Boston, Massa- 

 chusetts ; it measures 1.97 x 1.40. 



366. Asio wllsonianus (Less.) [395.] 



American Long-eared Oivl. 



Hab. Temperate North America, south into Mexico. 



The Long-eared Owl is a common resident and generally dis- 

 tributed throughout North America at large. It is of nocturnal habits, 

 thus escaping observation, even where it is very common. Its food 

 consists chiefly of mice and other small rodents. Breeds in suitable 

 places wherever found. Forests of evergreens are favorite resorts of 

 this species for breeding purposes. The nest is constructed with very 

 little art ; composed of a few sticks with a more or less complete lin- 

 ing of feathers. Various nesting places are selected ; such as a hollow 

 tree or stump, rift of rock, an old crow's or hawk's nest, which is re- 

 paired with a few sticks. In some localities the nest is made on the 

 ground or on low bushes, and the same nest is occupied for several 

 years. In the West where this Owl is very abundant it frequently de- 

 posits its eggs in old Magpies' nests. In California it begins nesting 

 as early as the middle of February ; in Kansas the eggs are deposited 

 early in April. 



The eggs are from three to six, and sometimes seven in number ; 

 they are white and oval in shape. Three eggs of this Owl are in 

 my collection, taken from an old hawk's nest in Knox county, Ohio, 

 April 20, 1884 ; they were so far advanced in incubation that they 

 could hardly be preserved ; these measure 1.62x1.32, 1.57x1.28, 1.59 

 x 1.35. Three eggs from a set of five collected in Marion county, Ohio, 

 April 9, 1884, measure 1.65 x 1.27, 1.59 x 1.33, 1.75 x 1.28. A set of six 

 eggs from an old Magpie's nest, collected in Douglas county, Colorado, 

 April 20, 1885, measure 1.59x1.32, 1.64x1.33, 1.57x1.38, 1.65x1.44^ 

 1.60x1.35, 1-60x1.40. 



