The Barn Owl on Long Island. — From Doctor Braislin’s ‘ Notes con- 
cerning certain Birds of Long Island,’ published in the July number of 
‘The Auk’, I am led to infer that there has heretofore been some doubt 
about the presence of the Barn Owl on our island. It may be of interest 
to Doctor Braislin to know that a pair of these owls formerly inhabited 
the steeple of the Congregational Church on the corner of Lincoln Street 
and Browne Avenge, Flushing. For many years I knew of their pres- 
ence there, but did not divulge the secret for fear that they might be 
driven away by the church people. No doubt they would still be there 
had not the church been overhauled and new glass put into the steeple 
sash where the birds were wont to enter. The owls shared the steeple 
with a colony of pigeons and brought muskrats and other small mammals 
to their young, although there were fat young squabs within reach. 
Mr. Langdon Gibson, brother of Chas. Dana Gibson the artist, was also 
aware of the presence of the Barn Owls in the Congregational spire. 
Gibson was then a lad and he climbed up to the nest securing two young 
owls, if I remember aright; at any rate, he brought me one which I kept 
for some time and from it I made a number of drawings and still have 
them in my portfolio. Of all the creatures I have ever sketched there 
are none so absurdly comical in looks and action as young Barn Owls, 
and I can well understand the cause of the popular name of ‘ Monkey- 
faced Owl’ applied to these white-faced, beady-eyed young imps. — Dan. 
Beard, Flushing , N. T. Auk, XIX, Oct., 1902, p 
Capture of the Barn Owl {Strix pratincola ) on Long Island, New 
York. —This species is sufficiently rare on Long Island to make it worth 
while to record a specimen shot February 17 , i9°3’ Montauk Point. 
The bird was sent to me by Mr. Everett C. King, who wrote that it had 
been seen flying about for two or three days after a hard snow stoim. 
He also stated that this bird and one shot two years ago are the only ones 
of the kind he has seen in eleven years. — Jonathan Dwight, Jr., M. D., 
New York City . Auk, XX, Oct., 1903, p. H 3 Y, 
