OWL. a2i 



18— MOTTLED EARED OWL. 



Strix nsevia, Ind. Orn. i. 55. Gm. Lin. i. 289. 2)a?/rf. ii. 217. Shaw's Zool. vii. 230. 

 Bubo Clamator, Hibou Criard, Viei/l, Am. i. Am. Orn. iii. pi. 19. f. i. 

 Mottkd eared Owl, Gen. Syn. u 126. Aret. Zool. ij. No. 118. pi. 11. 



LENGTH 9 or lOin. ; breadth 21m. Bill broww ; irides 

 yellow ; plumage above grey, mottled with ferruginous and black ; 

 the shaft of each feather being black, with three or four bars of the 

 .same on each side ; these markings are much the same beneath, but 

 more distinct, where the ground colour is paler ; feathers round the 

 face tipped with black, as also those of the breast; the eared feathers 

 an inch or more in length ; legs feathered to the toes ; claws brown ; 

 this bird is apt to vary in the shades of plumage, but whether owing 

 to difference of sex is not certain. 



Inhabits North America, not uncommon at New York, breeds 

 in May, and continues in the country the whole year ; arrives in 

 Pen sylvan a tlie beginning of cold weather, generally seen in the 

 upland and mountainous districts; feeds chiefly on mice, small birds, 

 and beetles ; but is there rather a scarce bird ; observed to fly early 

 at night and morniig; sometimes found on the fences in full day, 

 when it is easily caught, as it sees then but imperfectly j roosts at 

 night in hollow trees. 



vot. I. T T 



