FAM. XXV 11. HORNED OWLS, ETC. 



185 



B. Wing, 3-8 long (C.) 



C. Wing, 6^-8 long 5. Richardson's Owl. 



C. Wing, 5-6[ long 6. Saw-whet Owl. 



C. Wing, 3-5 long; tarsus densely feathered and not longer than 



middle toe 12. Ferruginous Pygmy Owl. 



D. Belly with longitudinal stripes ; back and breast with cross bars 



3. Barred Owl. 



D. Belly and back with longitudinal stripes (there are small, possibly 



unnoticed ear tufts of few feathers.) 2. Short-eared Owl. 



D. Belly and back dotted with black ; the nail of the middle claw has a 

 saw-like ridge on the inner side, so this species belongs to the next 



family ; face heart shaped^ American Barn Owl, p. 192. 



E. Plumage chiefly white ; tail rounded 9. Snowy Owl. 



E. Plumage mottled and barred with blackish and whitish 



4. Great Gray Owl. 



F. Wing, 14-18 long 8. Great Horned Owl. 



F. Wing, 5-8 long 7. Screech Owl. 



F. Wing, 11-13 long. (G.) 



G. Ear tufts large, of 8-12 feathers 1. American Long-eared Owl. 



G. Ear tufts small, of few feathers 2. Short-eared Owl. 



1. American Long-eared Owl (366. Asio jrihrndanus). — A 

 large, common, night-flying, long-eared, brownish, mottled 

 owl, with the lower parts lighter, streaked on the breast 

 and barred on the belly. The ear 

 tufts are an inch or more long, 

 nearly black, with a light border. 

 During the daytime, this tame 

 bird is usually to be found in 



deep, and, by preference, ever- nii'ff ftfiil 



green forests. Its food consists wfm'l I I l^\ 



mainly of mice and other small M m P I i k I' 



mammals. mki' " i i 



Length, 13-16 ; wing, llj (11-12) ; '«*-*'■• > • - 

 tail, 6 ; tarsus, 1 ] ; culmen, 1. Tem- 

 perate North America south to central 

 Mexico ; breeding throughout. 



2. Short-eared Owl (367. Asio 1^^.'»5| 

 accipitrlnus). — A large, ochrace- 

 ous, brown mottled, and streaked, 

 marsh-living owl, with ear tufts Shoit-eared Owl 



