LONG-EARED OWL. 449 
part of the pinata is white at the base; and, when the scapulars are 
a little displaced, they appear spotted with white. 
Fig. 204 was a male in perfect plumage. The color and markings 
of the male and female are nearly alike. 
LONG-EARED OWL.—STRIX OTUS.—Fic. 202. 
Turt. Syst. p. 167.— Bewick, i. p. 84. — Peale’s Museum, No. 434. 
OTUS VULGARIS. — Firmine.* 
Strix otus, Bonap. Synop. p- 87.— North. Zool. ii. p. 72. 
Txis Owl is common to both continents, and is much more numer- 
ous in Pennsylvania than the White, or Barn Owl: six or seven were 
found in a single tree, about fifteen miles from Philadelphia. There 
is little doubt but this species is found inhabiting America to a high 
latitude ; though we have no certain accounts of the fact. Except in 
size, this species has more resemblance to the Great Horned Owl than 
any other of its tribe. It resembles it also in breeding among ‘the 
branches of tall trees ; lays four eggs, of nearly a round form, and pure 
white} The young are grayish white until nearly full grown, and 
roost during the day close together on a limb, among the thickest of 
the foliage. This Owl is frequently seen abroad during the day, but 
is not remarkable for its voice or habits, 
The Long-eared Owl is fourteen inches and a half long, and three 
feet two inches in extent ; ears, large, composed of six feathers, grad- 
! ually lengthening from the front one backwards, black, edged with 
rusty yellow ; irides, vivid yellow; inside of the circle of the face, 
white, outside or cheeks, rusty; at the internal angle of the eye, a 
streak of black ; bill, blackish horn color; forehead and crown, deep 
brown, speckled with minute points of white and pale rusty; outside 
| 
: * Upon the authority of the Prince of Musignano, and the examinations of the 
various writers who have mentioned this bird, it appears very near indeed, if not 
| identical with, the O. vulgaris of Europe ; and I have ventured to retaih it as such, 
until I can decide from personal observation. The opinions of Vieillot, &c., have 
| been confused by the existence of a second species in the United States, which will 
| appear in the fifth volume of the elegant Continuation of Wilson, now in progress by 
} Bouaparte, under the title of Otus Mexicanus. S 
In the second volume of the Northern Zoology, we have the Long-eared Owl re- 
ferred to this species, and no mention is made of any difference arising even from 
climate. The habits deseribed by Wilson and Dr, Richardson are precisely simi- 
lar to those exhibited by our European bird. : ee 
Otus has been formed by Cuvier for the reception of those species with aigrettes, 
where the facial disk is conspicuous, und the head proportionally small, as in Bubo ; 
and where the ear-conch is large, extending, as in this species, from the posterior 
part of the orbit to behind the limb of the lower jaw. The plumage is loose and 
downy, the habits nocturnal. — Ep. : 
t+ Buffon remarks that it rarely constructs a nest of its own 3 but not unfrequently 
occupies that of sl aad the Magpie. 
eS eee 
