The Long-eared Owl 



parenthetically, your 

 Magpie is evidently ex- 

 actly up to that game, 

 even if the stupid man 

 failed to play to his lead. 



The illusion of this 

 decoy ruse (whose fur- 

 ther psychology I leave 

 who will to explicate) 

 was most complete; and 

 even inside knowledge 

 of the facts could not 

 lessen the wonder how 

 the Owl could so per- 

 fectly reproduce the 

 shrieks of former 

 victims. 



The Long-eared 

 Owl enjoys a high repu- 

 tation as a mouser, and 

 has been passed with 



honor by the examining board of governmental 

 experts. He does occasionally prey on birds, but there can be no question 

 of his over-balancing services. Most especially this milder-toothed and 

 very fascinating fowl deserves to be distinguished from his dread cousin, 

 the Great Horned Bubo. 



ANOTHER ALARMED 

 VIEWER 



Taken near San Diego 

 Photo by D. R. Dickey 



No. 212 



Short-eared Owl 



A. O. U. No. 367. Asio flammeus (Pontoppidan). 



Description. — Adults: Ear-tufts very short — scarcely noticeable; entire plumage, 

 except facial disc, nearly uniform buff, ochraceous-buff or cream-buff, striped or mottled 

 with dark brown, — heavily above and on breast, the stripes becoming more narrow on 

 belly and disappearing altogether on legs and crissum; edge of wing white; the wing- 

 quills and tail-feathers broadly barred with brownish dusky; the facial disc gray 

 centrally, with black around each eye and on the bridge. Bill and toe-nails dusky blue; 

 eyes yellow; ear-opening enormous, but fully concealed. Immature: Dark brown with 

 ochraceous tips above; brownish-black face, and unstriped underparts. Length 

 355.6-406.4 (14.00-16.00); wing 304.8-330.2 (12.00-13.00); tail 139. 7-158. 8 (5.50-6.25); 

 bill from cere 17.2 (.68); tarsus 44.5 (1.75). Adult female larger than male. The 

 preceding measurements include both sexes. 



IO87 



