Nests in Holes in Trees, Stumps, or Logs 



back of ear ; tail rufous, with a broad blacic bar and tipped 



with white ; under parts buff and pinkish buff shading to 



white and spotted with black on the sides. 

 Adult ? — Upper parts duller rufous barred black; under parts dull 



buffy white, streaked with black spots. Length — lo.oo. 

 Breeding Range — Throughout the Eastern States. 



The eggs are laid in a hole in a tree, often a woodpecker's 

 hole being used ; there is no lining. The colour of the eggs varies 

 greatly, the ground colour being white, buff", or pinkish buff, 

 marked with irregular spots and blotches of dark or light chestnut, 

 brown, or chocolate, sometimes entirely concealing the ground 

 colour at the larger end. Size — 1.35 x 1.15. See Fig. 3, Plate A. 



While the Sparrow Hawk may be said to nest almost exclu- 

 sively in the hollow of a tree, there have been instances of varia- 

 tion from this rule, eggs having been found " in crevices in rocks, 

 in holes in banks, along rivers, or nooks about buildings " (Davie). 



The breeding season begins about the middle of April. Incu- 

 bation occupies about three weeks. 



365. American Barn Owl : Strix pratincola Bonap. 



Eggs white. 



See Page 82, Chapter V. 



368. Barred Owl: Syrnium nebulosum (Forst.) 



Adult — Upper parts gray or grayish brown, marked with white 

 and drab ; under parts whitish, the breast barred and the belly 

 streaked ; head large and round, without ear tufts; feet and 

 toes feathered. Length — 20.00. 



Breeding Range — Eastern States from northern Florida northward. 



The eggs are usually deposited in a hollow in a tree, at some 

 height from the ground; sometimes old crows' or hawks' nests 

 are used. Minot writes, " Evidence indicates that the Barred Owls 

 usually build their own nest, choosing for a site some crotch next to 

 the trunk of a pine or oak." I find no corroboration of this state- ' 

 ment, however, though this may possibly be the case in some parts 

 of the country. 2 to 4 white eggs are laid. Size — 2.00 x 1.65. 

 These are by far the most common of the larger owls throughout 

 the Eastern States. They breed in the neighbourhood of New 

 7 97 



