58 BARRED OWL. 



BARRED OWL. (Strix nebulosa.) 



PLATE XXXIII.— Fie! 2. 



Turton, Syst. 169.— Arct. Zool. p. 234, No. 122.— Lath. 133.— Strix acclamator, 

 The Whooting Owl, Bartram, 289. —Peale's Museum, No. 464. 



STRIX NEBULOSA.— Forster.* 



La chouette du Canada (Ulula), Cuv. Begn. Anim. i. p. 328. — Strix nebulosa, 

 (sub-gen. Ulula, Cuv.) Bonap. St/nop. p. 38. — Chouette nebuleuse, Temm. 

 Man. i. p. 86. —Strix nebulosa, North. Zool. ii. p. 81. 



This is one of our most common owls. In winter particularly, 

 it is numerous in the lower parts of Pennsylvania, among the 



breast sometimes largely patched with deep brown, and sometimes en- 

 tirely of that colour ; and the white bar at the base of the tail, though 

 always present, is of various dimensions. Dr Richardson says it arrives 

 in the Fur Countries in April and May ; and having reared its young, 

 retires southward early in October. They were so shy, that only one 

 specimen could be got by the Expedition. — Ed. 



* Cuvier places this bird in his genus Ulula. It may be called 

 nocturnal, though it does show a greater facility of conducting itself 

 during the day than the really night-living species, and will approach 

 nearer to the tawny owl of this country than any other ; indeed, it 

 almost seems the American representative of that species. The tawny 

 owl, though not so abundant, has the very same manners ; and when 

 raised from its dormitory in a spruce or silver fir, or holly, or oak that 

 still carries its leaves, it will flit before one for half a day, moving its 

 station whenever it thinks the aggressor too near. It does not utter 

 any cry during flight. 



It is common to both continents, visiting, however, only the more 

 northern parts of the European, and does not extend so generally as 

 many of those which inhabit both. 



According to Mr Audubon, this owl was a most abundant visitor to 

 his various solitary encampments, often a most amusing one ; and, by 

 less accustomed travellers, might easily have been converted into some 

 supposed inhabitant of another world. 



" How often," says this distinguished ornithologist, " when snugly 

 settled under the boughs of my temporary encampment, and preparing 

 to roast a venison steak, or the body of a squirrel, on a wooden spit, 

 have I been saluted with the exulting bursts of this nightly disturber 

 of the peace, that, had it not been for him, would have prevailed around 

 me, as well as in my lonely retreat ! How often have I seen this 



