130 BARRED OWL. 



tions of Dr. A. P. Chadbourne apparently show that the 

 Screecli Owl may pass from one phase to another without 

 change of plumage.* 



We do not think of Owls as being insectivorous birds, 

 but Dr. A. K. Fisher tells us that of 225 Screech Owls' 

 stomachs examined, 100 contained insects. As 91 of the 

 remaining 125 contained mice, and poultry was found 

 in only one stomach, the farmer may well consider the 

 Screech Owl a bird of good repute rather than of ill 

 omen. 



Next to the Screech Owl the Barred Owl is doubtless 

 our most common representative of this family, but its 



Barred Owl fondness for deep woods prevents its 



Syrnium nehuiosum. being kuown to many who recognize the 

 Plate XXI. Screech Owl's mournful song. 



In both voice and appearance the Barred Owl seems 

 the most human of our Owls. Its call is a deep-voiced 

 questioning whoa-ivhoo-ivKoo, loho-ivhbo, to-tohoo-ah, 

 which may be heard at a distance of half a mile. It 

 echoes through the woods at night with startling force, 

 and the stories told of its effect on persons who were 

 ignorant of its source are doubtless not without foun- 

 dation. 



Other calls are a long-drawn wJw-d-fi-o-dh, and rarely 

 a thrilling, weird shriek. When two or more Owls are 

 together, they sometimes join in a most singular concerted 

 performance. One utters about ten rapid hoots, while 

 the other, in a slightly higher tone, hoots about half as 

 fast, both birds ending together with a whoo-ah. At 

 other times they may hoot and laugh in a most remark- 

 able and quite indescribable manner. 



The Barred Owl feeds largely on mice, and 46 of 100 

 stomachs examined contained remains of these rodents. 



* The Auk (New York city), xiii, 1S96, p. 321 ; xiv, 1897, p. 33. 



