108 
STRIX NEEULOSA. 
feet. Their nest was probably not far distant. 
I ba^' 
also seen the eg-gs of tliis si)ecies, which are nearlV^^ 
large as those of a young pullet, but much more globu 
and perfectly white. 
These birds sometimes seize on fowls, partridges, 
young rabbits ; mice and small game are, however, 0’^, 
most usual food. The difference of size betweeii 
male and female of this owl is extraordinary, amoum 
sometimes to nearly eight inches in the length. ^ 
scream during day, like a hawk. p 
The male barred owl measures sixteen inches !if .( 
half in length, and thirty-eight inches in extent; itl’fDf 
parts a pale brown, marked with transverse spo^'^p 
white ; wings, barred with alternate hands of IV,! 
brown, and darker ; head, smooth, very large, 
with transverse touches of dark brown, pale hri> 
and white ; eyes, large, deep blue, the pupil not 
ceivahle ; face, or radiated circle of the eves, r 
surrounded by an outline of brown and white 
bill, yellow, tinged with grecTi ; breast, barred ti^j 
versely with ro« s of brown and white ; belly, j|;li 
longitudinally with long stripes of brown, ou a y ell»''^||i) 
ground; vent, plain yellowish white; thighs 
feathered legs, the same, slightly pointed with bro ^ 
toes, nearly covered with plumage ; claws, dark 
' ■/ 
colour, very sharp ; tail, rounded, and remarkably 
cave below, barred with six broad bars of bro'V*'’ 
as many narrow ones of white ; the hack and shoin“ ]j( 
have a cast of chestnut ; at each internal an 
eye, is a broad spot of black ; the jJnmage w 
radiated cinde round the eye ends in long black 
and the hill is encompassed by others of a looft^Jv 'tlk 
more bristly kind. These probably serve to g'‘‘j ,(ilV 
eye when any danger apjiroachcs it in sweeping jjy 
through the woods ; and those usually found oo 
catchers may have the same intention to fulfil i ’jjjt 
the slightest touch of the point of any of these ha”’'py^e 
nictitant membrane was in.stantly thrown over the 
The female is twentj'-two inches long, and fo'ff ],jt 
in extent ; the chief difference of colour consists i 
