LONG-EARED OWL. 2 8l 



much curved, whitish ; outer claw, very small. The greater 

 part of the plumage is white at the base ; and when the 

 scapulars are a little displaced, they appear spotted with white. 

 This was a male in perfect plumage. The colour and 

 markings of the male and female are nearly alike. 



LONG-EARED OWL. (Strix otus.) 



PLATE LI.— Fig. 1. 



Turt. Syst. p. 167.— Bewick, i. p. 84.— Peale's Museum, No. 434. 



OTUS VULGARIS.- Fleming.* 



Strix otus, Bonap. Synop. p. 37. — North. Zool. ii. p. 72. 



This owl is common to both continents, and is much more 

 numerous 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 



* Upon the authority of the Prince of Musignano, and the examina- 

 tions of the various writers who have mentioned this bird, it appears 

 very near indeed, if not identical with, the 0. vulgaris of Europe ; and 

 I have ventured to retain 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 Bonaparte, under the title of Otus Mexicanus. 



In the second volume of the " Northern Zoology," we have the long- 

 eared owl referred to this species, and no mention is made of any 

 difference arising even from climate, The habits described by Wilson 

 and Dr Richardson are precisely similar to those exhibited by our 

 European bird. 



Otus has been formed by Cuvier for the reception of those species 

 with aigrettes, where the facial disk is conspicuous and the head pro- 

 portionally small, as in Bubo ; and where the ear-conch is large, extend- 

 ing, 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. — Ed. 



