BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
151 
on it instantly, folding- his wings and protruding his feet, in which his 
quarry is always secured ; he often captures frogs that are sitting on 
the shores of ponds and rivers ; but I am inclined to think that the 
statement, quoted by Audubon, that he often catches fish, is incor- 
rect.” — Samuels."^ 
The Florida Barred Owl — a local race, technically called Syrnium 
nebulosum alleni — is exceedingly abundant about the almost impenetrable 
swamps and heavily-timbered regions along the St. John’s river. In 
the winter of 1885, I was informed by two residents of Florida, both 
gentlemen whom I consider thoroughly trustworthy, that this owl fre- 
quently preys on fish, which it secures, while sitting close to the water’s 
edge, by a dextrous movement of the foot. The stomach contents of 
five of these Florida Owls, which I examined, consisted only of the 
remains of small birds and coleopterous insects. 
Keferring to this species, Nuttall says: Their food is principally 
rabbitts, squirrels, grouse, quails, rats, mice and frogs. From necessity, 
as well as choice, they not unfrequently appear around the farmhouse 
and garden, in quest of poultry, particularly young chickens. At these 
times they prowl abroad toward evening, and fly low and steadily about, 
as if beating for their prey. 
The stomach contents of eight of these owls which I have examined 
are recorded in the following table : 
No. 
Date. 
Locality. 
Food-Materials. 
1 
Oct. 28, 1879, . . . 
Chester county. Pa., . . 
Field mice and beetles. 
2 
Nov. 17, 1879, . . . 
Chester county. Pa. , . . 
Beetles and small bird (Robin). 
3 
Jan. — , 1880, . . . 
Chester county. Pa., . . 
Field mice. 
4 
Jan. 11, 188!. . . . 
Chester county. Pa., . . 
Remains of chicken and field mice. 
5 
Jan. 20. 1883, . . . 
Chester county. Pa., . . 
Field mice and small bird (Meadowlark). 
6 
Jan. 12. 1884, . . . 
Chester county. Pa., . . 
Beetles and chicken feathers. 
7 
Dec. 16. 1886. . . . 
Chester county. Pa. , . . 
Remains of rabbit ( Lepus ) . 
8 
Nov. 18. 1887, . . . 
Cecil county, Md. , ... 
Fragments of beetles and bones of small mammal. 
Genus ULULiA Cuvier. 
Ulula cinerea (Gmel.). 
Great Gray Owl. 
Description. 
A very large round-headed owl, without ear tufts ; although much larger, resem- 
bles somewhat the Barred Owl, but can be easily distinguished from the latter. 
Length (female) 28; extent about 56; wing 17, tail 12 ; bill and eyes yellow ; claws 
long and very sharp and dusky. Above dark-brown, feathers variously spotted, 
mottled or barred with fine grayish-white markings ; lower parts similar but more 
grayish, with longitudinal streaks on breast, and cross bars of white and dusky on 
flanks ; face grayish-white with numerous narrow rings of dusky ; a patch of black 
about eyes on either side of bill. 
Habitat . — Arctic America, straggling southward in winter, to the northern border 
of the United States, 
* Our Northern and Eastern Birds, by K. A. Samuels, p. 74. 
