92 
THE SPARROW OWL. 
These nests have a most ill-conditioned and penetrating odor, which taints the hand which is 
introduced, and cannot be removed without considerable care and several lavations. The young 
are curious little puffs of white down, and the Barn Owl is so prolific that it has been known 
to be sitting on one brood of eggs while it is feeding the young of a previous hatching. 
As may be supposed from its popular title of White Owl, this species is very light in its 
coloring. The general color of this bird is buff of different tints, with gray, white, and black 
variegations. The head and neck are light buff, speckled slightly with black and white spots, 
and the back and wings are of a deeper buff spotted with gray, black, and white. The tail is 
also buff, with several broad bars of gray. The facial disc is nearly white, becoming rusty- 
brown towards the eye, and a deeper brown round the edge. The under surface of the male 
bird is beautifully white, the claws are brown, the beak nearly white, and the eyes blue-black. 
The sexes are very similar in their coloring, but the females and young males may be distin- 
guished by the under surface of the body, which is fawn instead of white. 
The American Barn Owl (Aluco jlammens ) is common to the more southern portions of 
the United States, especially near the sea-coast, in Mexico and California. It is rarely seen 
north of Pennsylvania. 
The Saw Whet Owl (Nyctale acadica), called also Acadian Owl. This is rare in New 
England. Audubon says : “ The sound of its love notes bears a great resemblance to the noise 
produced by the filing of the teeth of a large saw. These notes, when coming from the depths 
of the forest, produce a very peculiar effect upon the traveller, who, not being aware of their 
real nature, expects, as he advances on his route, to meet with shelter under a saw mill at no 
great distance.” This is also called Kirtland’s Owl. It seems to have something like a ven- 
triloquial voice. At times its voice is like the tones of a distant bell. Audubon noticed this, 
and asserts that he had never heard the like in any other bird. Its voice was as illusive as the 
aspect of the “ will-o’-the-wisp.” 
The Little Red Owl (Scops asio). Several varieties of this little Owl are known. It is 
called Screech Owl and Mottled Owl. It is entirely nocturnal in habit. Its flight is wonder- 
fully silent, being quite imperceptible. 
The Sparrow Owl (Nyctale richardsoni), named for the Arctic traveller, Dr. Richard- 
son, inhabits the Arctic regions, but occasionally is seen in New England. It is regarded 
nearly allied to the European (N. funerea ). Felner’s Owl is a Central American bird. 
