Stbigid^:. BIRDS. Strigid.®. 
clxvi 
lioriied Owl tliaii any otlier ol' its tribe, breed- 
ing- like it among- the branches of tall trees. It 
is fourteen inches and a half long, and three feet 
two inches in extent of wing. 'I'he “ears” are 
hu-ge, and composed of six feathers, gradually 
lengthening from the front one backwards, black, 
edged with rusty-yellow. 'I'his bird is closely allied 
to the Otus vulgaris of Europe ; the present species 
being regarded as a variety, and called wilsoniaipis. 
It has the habit of using the nests of other birds, 
tliough sometimes it constructs one for itself. Mr. 
llidg'way found it very abundant in the Sacramento 
Valley, and noticed that it generally laid its eggs in 
the deserted nests of the Magpie. 
SHORT-EARED OWL {Otus hraehyotus).— V\\\B is 
also called the Marsh Owl. It is not common in 
any part of New England, excepting the sea coast, 
although its habitat is regarded as covering “ the 
entire continent and adjacent islands of America, 
also Europe, Asia, Africa, Polynesia and Sandwich 
Islands. In the geographical variations of this species, 
it is seen that tlie average plumage of North Ameri- 
can specimens is just appreciably darker than that of 
the European, while tropical specimens have a ten- 
dency to be still darker. 1 know of no bird so wide- 
ly distributed which varies so little in the different 
parts of its habitat, unless it be the C'otyle riparia, 
which, however, is not found so far south.” — Baird. 
Dr. Newberry met with this bird in Oregon and 
Calil’oriiia, finding it especially common in the Kla- 
math Basin, 'riiough i)roi)erly nocturnal, it was met 
with, hunting on cloudy days, flying low over the 
meadows, in the manner of and associated with the 
Mai’sh Hawk. Its length is fifteen inches; extent of 
wing three feet four inches. 
GREAT GRAY OWL {Syrnmm cinereum).- — -'I’his 
is a denizen of the Arctic regions of America, and 
is possilily a resident in Canada. In winter it ex- 
tends occasionally as far south as IMassachusetts. 
It is said to hunt by daylight in the more northern 
regions, and to prefer the wooded districts. A fine 
specimen was captured in Marblehead, Mass., and 
is now in the collection of the Esse.x Institute. 
Another, shot in Lynn, is in the collection of W. S. 
Brewer, of Boston. This is the largest Owl of 
North America. Its head is very large ; eyes, small ; 
tail rather long, upper i)arts smoky or ashy-brown, 
mottled and transversely barred with ashy-white. 
Its total length is twenty-five to thirty inches ; wing, 
eighteen ; tail, twelve to fifteen. Audubon says of 
this species : “The comparatively small size of this 
bird's eyes renders it probable that it hunts by day ; 
and the remarkable smallness of its feet induces me 
to think that it does not prey upon large animals. 
It is common on the borders of the Great Bear Lake; 
and there, in the higher jiarallels of latitude, it must 
pursue its prey during the summer months by day- 
light. It keeps, however, within the woods, and 
does not frecpient the barren grounds, like the Snowy 
Owl ; nor is it so often met with in broad daylight 
as the Hawk Owl, Imt hunts principally when the 
sun is low. Indeed, it is only at such times, when 
the recesses of the woods are deeply shadowed, that 
the American Hare and the murine animals, on 
which this Owl chiefly preys, come forth to feed.” 
BARRED O'WL [Syrnimn neT)ulosuin). — 'I’his is a 
much smaller species of the same genus as the pre- 
ceding, and has the same peculiar, soft, cinereous 
plumage. It is common in New England, and ex- 
tends over Eastern North America and west to the 
Missouri ; south to the Kio Grande. It is remarka- 
ble for its soft and rapid flight, the great breadth of 
wings giving it extraordinary ])ower. Its vision is 
said to be almost as good in the daylight as in the 
night. 'I’he Barred Owl is most abundant in the 
Southern States, where it is called the Hoot Owl. 
It is not found on the Pacific Coast, nor in the high 
northern latitudes; but in all parts of the United 
States it is probably a more familiar Owl than either 
of the other native species. “ How often,” says 
Audubon, “when snugly settled under the boughs of 
my temporary encampment, and preparing to roast a 
venison steak or the body of a squirrel on a wooden 
spit, have I been saluted with the exulting bursts of 
this nightly disturber of the peace, that, had it not 
been for him, would have prevailed around me as 
well as in my lonely retreat! How often have I seen 
this nocturnal marauder alight within a few yards of 
me, exposing his whole body to the glare of my fire, 
and eye me in such a curious manner, that, had it 
been reasonable to do so, I would have invited him 
to walk in and join me in my repast! The liveli- 
ness of his motions, joined to their oddness, have 
often made me think that his society would be at 
least as agreeable as that of many of the buffoons 
we meet with in the world. Should the weather be 
lowering and indicative of the approach of rain, 
their cries are so multiplied during the day, and 
especially in the evening, and they respond to each 
other in tones so strange, that one might imagine 
some extraordinary fUe about to take place among 
them. On approaching one of them, its gesticula- 
tions are seen to be of a very extraordinary nature. 
'I’he position of the bird, which is generally erect, is 
immediately changed. It lowers its head and in- 
clines its body to watch the motions of the person 
beneath ; throws forward the lateral feathers of its 
head, which thus has the appearance of being sur- 
ronnded by a broad ruff; looks towards him as if 
half blind, and moves its head to and fro in such an 
extraordinary manner as almost to induce a person 
to fancy that })art dislocated from the body.” "Wil- 
son says: “'I'he difference in size between the male 
and female of this species is extraordinary, some- 
times amounting to nearly eight inches in the length.” 
'I’he male measures sixteen inches and a half in length, 
and thirty-eight inches in extent. As is common 
with this group, the female is much the larger. 
"WESTERN BARRED OWL {Syrnimn occidental^). 
— This is a very closely allied species, called also 
the Epotted Owl. It was first described by Mr. 
Xantus, in Proceedings of Acad. Nat. Sciences, Phila., 
in 18.59. Its habitat is given as follows : Southern 
Middle Province of United States (Fort 'I'ejon, Gali- 
I'oi-nia, and 'I'ucson, Arizona). Nothing is recorded 
concerning its habits. 
