182 BIRDS 



the old Smithsonian Institution ;.many eggs have been laid 

 directly on roofs of dwellings; some in mining shafts; 

 others in deserted burrows of ground squirrels and other 

 rodents; in fact, all manner of queer sites are chosen. 

 Strictly speaking, the barn owl builds no nest, unless the 

 accumulation of decayed wood, disgorged bones of mice, 

 etc., among which the eggs are dropped, could be honored 

 with such a name. From five to eleven pure, duU-white 

 eggs, more decidedly pointed than those of most owls, are 

 incubated by both mates, sometimes by both at once, as 

 they sit huddled together through the hours of unwelcome 

 sunshine. They can scarcely multiply too fast. The 

 barn owl does not eat poultry, although it is constantly 

 shot because of an unfounded belief prevalent among 

 farmers that it does. From an economic standpoint, it 

 would be diflScult to name a more valuable bird. 



The Osprey 



Length — ^Male 2 feet, or a trifle less; female larger. 



Male and Female — Upper parts dusky brown, the feathers 

 edged with white as a bird grows old; head and nape 

 varied with white and a dark stripe on side of head; 

 under parts white; the breast of male sometimes 

 slightly, that of female always, spotted with grayish 

 brown; tail with six or eight obscure dark bars. Bill 

 blackish and with long hook. 



Range — ^North America from Hudsons Bay and Alaska to 

 the Equator; nesting throughout its North American 

 range. 



Season — Summer resident. March to October, except in 

 southern part of range. 



