278 
LONG-EARED OWL. 
much curved, whitish ; outer claw, very small. The greater 
part of the plumage is white at the base ; and, when the 
scapulars are a little displaced, they appear spotted with white. 
This was a male in perfect plumage. The colour and 
markings of the male and female are nearly alike. 
LONG-EARED OWL. — STRIX OTUS. — Plate LI. Fig. 1. 
Turt. Syst. p. 167. — Bewick, i. p. 84. — Peale's Museum , No. 434. 
OTUS VULGARIS. — Fleming.* 
Strix otus, Bonap. Synop. p. 37 — North. Zool. ii. p. 72. 
This Owl is common to both continents, and is much more 
numerous in Pennsylvania than the White, or Barn Owl : six 
or seven were found in a single tree, about fifteen miles from 
Philadelphia. There is little doubt but this species is found 
inhabiting America to a high latitude ; though we have no 
certain accounts of the fact. Except in size, this species has 
more resemblance to the Great Horned Owl than any other 
of its tribe. It resembles it also in breeding among the 
branches of tall trees ; lays four eggs, of nearly a round form, 
* Upon the authority of the Prince of Musignano, and the examinations of 
the various writers who have mentioned this bird, it appears very near indeed, 
if not identical with, the O. vulgaris of Europe ; and I have ventured to retain 
it as such, until I can decide from personal observation. The opinions of 
Vieillot, &c. have been confused, by the existence of a second species in the 
United States, which will appear in the fifth volume of the elegant continua- 
tion of Wilson, now in progress by Bonaparte, under the title of Otus 
Mexicanus. 
In the second volume of the Northern Zoology, we have the Long-eared Owl 
referred to this species, and no mention is made of any difference arising even 
from climate. The habits described by Wilson and Dr Richardson are 
precisely similar to those exhibited by our European bird. 
Otus has been formed by Cuvier for the reception of those species with 
aigrettes, where the facial disk is conspicuous, and the head proportionally small, 
as in Bubo; and where the ear-conch is large, extending, as in this species, from 
the posterior part of the orbit, to behind the limb of the lower jaw. The 
plumage is loose and downy, the habits nocturnal. — Ed. 
