314 
OWLS 
rufous, finely streaked with black; underparts white, the feathers centrally 
streaked with black and irregularly barred with rufous; toes rather scantily 
feathered; eyes yellow. Gray phase . — Upperparts generally brownish gray, 
streaked with black and finely mottled with ochraceous-buff ; underparts 
white, finely streaked and more finely and irregularly barred with black, 
more or less bordered by rufous. Nestling . — Entire plumage regularly 
barred with grayish or rufous and white. L., 9*40; W., 6*40; T., 3*09; 
B., '63. 
Remarks . — This bird may be known by its small size and ear-tufts. Its 
color phases are not dependent upon age, sex, or season, and both phases are 
sometimes represented in the same brood. Between the two there is a com- 
plete intergradation. (See frontispiece.) 
Range. — E. N. Am. from Minn., Ont., and N. B. s. to ne. Tex., and Ga., 
and w. to about the 100th meridian; accidental in England. 
Washington, common P. It. Ossining, common P. R. Cambridge, 
common P. R. N. Ohio, common P. R. Glen Ellyn, common P. R. SE. 
Minn., common P. R. 
Nest, generally in a hollow tree. Eggs, white, 4-6, 1*55 x 1*22. Date , 
Chevy Chase, Md., Apl. 6; Ossining, N. Y., Apl. 6; Cambridge, Apl. 15; 
Milton, Mass., Apl. 9; Poweshiek Co., Iowa, Apl. 9. 
The Screech Owl frequently makes its home near our dwellings, 
and sometimes selects a convenient nook in them in which to lay its 
eggs. But its favorite retreat is an old apple orchard, where the hollow 
limbs offer it a secure refuge from the mobs of small birds which are 
ever ready to attack it. A search in the trees of an orchard of this kind 
rarely fails to result in the discovery of one or more of these feathered 
inhabitants who may have resided there for years. They attempt to 
escape capture by a show of resistance and a castanetlike cracking of 
the bill, but when brought from their hiding-place sit quietly, dazzled 
for a moment by the sudden light. They then elongate themselves 
and almost close their eyes, thus rendering themselves as inconspicuous 
as possible. How differently they appear when the western sky fades 
and their day begins! Is any bird more thoroughly awake than a hungry 
Screech Owl? With ear-tufts erected, and his great, round eyes opened 
to the utmost, he is the picture of alertness. 
When night comes, one may hear the Screech Owl’s tremulous, 
wailing whistle. It is a weird, melancholy call, welcomed only by 
those who love Nature’s voice whatever be the medium through which 
she speaks. 
“Of 255 stomachs examined, 1 contained poultry; 38, other birds; 
91, mice; 11, other mammals; 2, lizards; 4, batrachians; 1, fish; 100, 
insects; 5, spiders; 9, crawfish; 7, miscellaneous; 2, scorpions; 2, earth- 
worms; and 43 were empty” (Fisher). 
1893. Hasbrouck, E. M., Am. Nat., 521-533, 638-649; Allen, J. A., 
Auk, 347-351.— 1896. Chadbourne, A. P., Auk, XIII, 321-325; XIV, 33- 
39. (dichromatism). — 1911. Sherman, A., Auk, XXVIII, 155-168 (home- 
life). 
373a. O. a. floridanus ( Ridgw .). Florida Screech Owl. . Much like 
the preceding, but smaller, with the colors deeper and markings of the 
underparts heavier. W., 5*95; T., 2*80. The rufous phase is rare in this sub- 
species. 
