LONG-EARED OWL. 
97 
■ffings, crossed with six or seven narrow bars of brown, and variegated 
or marbled with brown and tawny ; whole upper parts finely pencilled 
with dusky, on a tawny and Avhitish ground ; chin pure white, under 
that a band of brown, succeeded by another narrow one of white ; eyes 
very large. 
The female is full two feet in length, and has not the white on the 
throat so pure. She has also less of the bright ferruginous or tawny 
tint below ; but is principally distinguished by her superior magnitude. 
Species VIIL STEIX OTUS. 
LONG-EARED OWL. 
[Plate LI. Fig. 3, Female.] 
Gmel. Sijst. I., p. 288. — Bewick, i,, p. 84.* 
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 this city. 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 its 
tribe. It resembles it also in breedin;; amonn; the branches of tall 
trees ; lays four eggs of nearly a round form, and pure Avhite.f The 
young are grayish white until nearly full grown, and roost during the 
day close together on a limb, among the thickest of the foliage. This 
Owl is frequently seen abroad during the day, but is not remarkable for 
its voice or habits. 
The Long-eared Owl is fourteen inches and a half long, and three 
feet two inches in extent ; ears large, composed of six feathers, gradu- 
ally lengthening from the front one backwards, black, edged with rusty 
yellow ; irides vivid yellow ; inside of the circle of the face white, 
outside or cheeks rusty ; at the internal angle of the eye a streak of 
black ; bill blackisli liorn color ; forehead and crown deep l:»rown, 
speckled with minute points of white and pale rusty ; outside circle of 
the face black, finely marked with small curving spots of white ; back 
and wings dark brown, sprinkled and spotted with white, pale ferru- 
ginous and dusky ; primaries barred with brownish yellow and dusky, 
* We add the following synonymes : Strix ofiis. Linn. Syst. i., p. 92, No. 4, ed. 
10.— Buff. PL Enl. 29.— Lath. Gen. Sijn. i., p. 121, Ind. Orn. p. 5.5. 
f Buffon remarks, that it rarely constructs a nest of its own ; but not unfre- 
quently occupies that of otliors, particularly the Magpie. 
Vol. L— 7 
