382 THE SCREECH OWE. 



No. i68. 



SCREECH OWL. 



A. O. U. No. 373. Megascops asio (Linn.). 



Description. — Adult : With conspicuous ear-tufts ; dichromatic. Rufous 

 phase. — Above cinnamon-rufous, substantially uniform, or with black centi^al 

 stripes on the feathers, the latter always (?) present on forehead; considerable 

 white on scapulars, wing-coverts, and margins of primaries ; wing-quills and tail 

 finely and rather indistinctly dusky-barred; below white, heavily blotched with 

 xufous, and black-streaked on breast and sides, fading posteriorly; middle line of 

 belly usually immaculate ; feet and legs completely feathered, more or less rufous 

 spotted ; facial disk grayish and rufous, not highly dififerentiated from surrounding 

 parts ; iris yellow ; bill yellow or dull gray, light tipped. Gray phase. — Similar 

 to preceding, but gray or pinkish gray instead of rufous ; pattern much more com- 

 plex ; each feather with dusky or rich brown central stripe, and cross-barred with 

 the same color in fine wavy lines ; this pattern beautifully carried out on the breast 

 and sides of the belly ; the ground color of the upper parts ochraceous-bufif, and of 

 under parts white. Between these two phases there exists every gradation. They 

 occur quite independently of age, sex, or season, both phases being sometim.es rep- 

 resented in the same brood. Young : Heavily barred with dusky gray or rufous 

 and dull whitish; no longitudinal markings. Length 8.00-10.00 (203.2-254.); 

 wing 6.39 (162.3) ; tail 3.44 (87.4) ; bill .81 (20.6). 



Recognition Marks. — Smaller, — "Robin size," horns, with diminutive size, 

 distinctive. 



Nest, in hollow trees. Woodpecker holes, etc. Eggs, 4-6, or even 8 and 9, 

 white, subspherical. Av. size, 1.40 x 1.20 (35.6 x 30.5). 



General Range. — Temperate eastern North America, south to Georgia and 

 west to the plains. Accidental in England. 



Range in Ohio. — Abundant resident. 



PROBABLY nine persons out of every ten shudder when they hear the 

 weird and tremulous notes of the Screech Owl ; but to the tenth man they 

 come like a welcome draught into which has been instilled the essence of all 

 wild things, a flavor oi mystery and dark deeds, and the authentic tang of 

 sorrow which still is joy. It is easier for most people to imagine a use for 

 these strange notes similar to that of the catamount's serenade, viz., to terrify 

 intended victims ; but only the elect, — lady owls and some others — see in them 

 the true likeness of a love song. It is comparatively easy to reproduce this 

 quavering song, especially if one cultivates a palatal trill, and it will be found 

 an exceedingly useful assembly-call in the woods. 



The truth of the matter is that every bird's bill is against this bird, and 

 there are none so poor to do him reverence — by daylight. This is not alone 

 because he appears stupid and sleepy, or because he regards his tormentors 

 with the fixed gravity of a round-eyed gaze, varied only by "that forlorn. 



