BARRED OWL. 
61 
I thought, looked like a cat asleep. Unable to satisfy myself, 
I was induced to fire, when, to my surprise and regret, four 
young Owls, of this same species, nearly full grown, came 
down headlong, and, fluttering for a few moments, died at 
my feet. Their nest was probably not far distant. I have 
also seen the eggs of this species, which are nearly as large 
as those of a young pullet, but much more globular, and 
perfectly white. 
These birds sometimes seize on fowls, partridges, and 
young rabbits ; mice and small game are, however, their most 
usual food. The difference of size between the male and 
female of this Owl is extraordinary, amounting sometimes to 
nearly eight inches in the length. Both scream during day, 
like a Hawk. 
The male Barred Owl measures sixteen inches and a half 
in length, and thirty-eight inches in extent ; upper parts a 
pale brown, marked with transverse spots of white ; wings, 
barred with alternate bands of pale brown, and darker; head, 
smooth, very large, mottled with transverse touches of dark 
brown, pale brown, and white ; eyes, large, deep blue, the 
pupil not perceivable ; face, or radiated circle of the eyes, 
gray, surrounded by an outline of brown and white dots; 
bill, yellow, tinged with green ; breast, barred transversely 
with rows of brown and white ; belly, streaked longitudinally 
with long stripes of brown, on a yellowish ground ; vent, 
plain yellowish white ; thighs and feathered legs, the same, 
slightly pointed with brown ; toes, nearly covered with 
plumage ; claws, dark horn colour, very sharp ; tail, rounded, 
and remarkably concave below, barred with six broad bars of 
brown, and as many narrow ones of white ; the back and 
shoulders have a cast of chestnut; at each internal angle of 
the eye, is a broad spot of black ; the plumage of the radiated 
circle round the eye ends in long black hairs ; and the bill is 
encompassed by others of a longer and more bristly kind. 
These probably serve to guard the eye when any danger 
approaches it in sweeping hastily through the woods ; and 
