New Eng. Rapbores. Number Eggs in 
a set. F. H. Carpenter. 
On visiting the nest May 17th, twenty-six 
days later, I found three little Owls just 
hatched. I went again June 2d and took 
one young, which I have in confinement to 
this time. It is extremely interesting to 
watch its movements, which are more diffi- 
cult on account of its being more affected 
by light than my others, (I have Screech 
and Barred in confinement,) but his confi- 
dence and familiarity won my affections at 
once. He will eat any kind of meat, but 
give him a nest of mice and he is in the 
third heaven of delight. No sooner does 
he see the basket of chaff, which he knows 
contains his favorite dish, than he goes 
through a very strange habit,. namely, that 
of running each of his claws through his 
bill, (ostensibly for the purpose of keeping 
them sharp, I suppose.) On depositing 
the heap in the corner of his room, which 
is quite dark, he flies to it and begins his 
search, scratching after the manner of hens. 
While doing this he keeps a contented, 
preening noise, but the instant a mouse is 
found it changes to a quick, sharp, express- 
ive note, and, grasping it so tightly one 
may hear its bones crack, he flies to his 
perch, stretches himself to his full height, 
erects his ears, gives two or three notes of 
triumph, all the while looking me in the 
face ; then carries the mouse to his box 
and returns for more. Such are a few of 
his habits, and, although foolish and sen- 
timental the stern scientist and collector 
may deem me, yet I say never shall I be 
guilty of taking another set of Asio Amer- 
icanus eggs to enrich my cabinet, for if 
they develop into such beings as my little 
friend, it is better to let them remain to 
fulfil their proper sphere ; for, Mr. Editor, 
it is a ponderous question, How may we 
b “‘ &****• 
ayeheard that measures 
be taken by^tflm^mithojoglsts 
tion to make a chpSrlisL In 
ment the SnjitBsonian should 
ted, othefwise such a check list 
a foothold. 
Long-eared Owl, ( Asio 
wilsonianns) . 
1 set 
of 3 
4 “ 
“ 4 
1 “ 
“ 5 
O.&O. XII. Oct. 1887 p. 1Q8 
'Collection of Raptures Eggs, J. P. N. 
Am. Long-eared Owl, 1-4, 1-4, 3-6, 1-7, <; ::4 
O.&O. XV. Apr. 1890. p. 53 
American Long— eared Owl. — Average 
measurement of thirty-seven specimens of 
the eggs of Asio americcmus (Sharpe), all 
I can get at present average 1.59x1.30 
inches. The three largest eggs measure 
respectively 1.68x1.31, 1.60x1.38, 1.63 X 
1.34, the two smallest 1.52x1.32 and 1.57 
Xl-25 inches — see page 81, Vol. VI. — ■ 
Chas. E. Bendire, U. S. A. 
O.&O. Vll.May.15, 1882. p. )£(,. 
O 
i e» 
The Oologfist. 1628. 
1 9O-I9I. 
way up the other one left, and by their 
violent movements we were satisfied it 
contained eggs, which proved to be 
the case, for on reaching the nest, which 
was near the top of a young hemlock thirty 
feet from the ground, close to the main 
trunk, on the east side, we found five pure 
white eggs, which we placed in a soft felt 
hat, and the hat carefully between our 
teeth, but we fear we was just a little 
cruel in prolonging the suspense of the 
poor birds, for it was interesting to watch 
their rapid movements, as with ears de- 
pressed and head feathers raised, and 
squealing pitifully like young cats in dis- 
tress, they flew as close to our head as it 
was prudent for them to do, snapping 
their bills the while. The nest was ev- 
idently built on that of a Night Her- 
on’s, and was quite shallow but firmly 
built of grass. There were considerable 
feathers, but whether they were placed 
there as a lining to the nest, or came from 
the quary consumed, we could not tell. 
Since the eggs were taken we have not been 
able to find the old birds. They evidently 
at once left that part of the woods. The 
following is the measurements of the five 
eggs taken from this nest: 1.59X1.32, 1.59 
Xl.32, 1.62x1.37, 1.65x1.35, 1.58x1.31. 
Within a stone’s throw of this nest we 
took two others, a Cooper’s Hawk and a 
Crow, both with full fresh sets. This her- 
onry was fully occupied in 1878, but sev- O 
eral sportsmen ? went and shot the birds 
for “fun” while breeding, one bringing to 
town and placing in a row for the curious 
to examine sixteen birds at one time. The 
action of these so-called sportsmen we 
severely condemned at the time in our lo- 
cal paper, and we do not think the act has 
been repeated. The Herons, however, left 
for safer quarters, and not many beside the 
writer know of their whereabouts. 
April 10, 1881. We visited the same 
locality in hopes that the Long-eared 
Owls had returned, but instead we found 
a pair of Barred Owls. 
O.&O. Vll. 1B8 J.D. !(,/-/ (,Z. 
American Long-eared Owl. By A. C. Murchison 
-Nesting habits. A.uk , Vll. Jan. ] 890 . p. Sffc. 
C t'vo 
s— i 
T 
Ibid . , 
pp. 
390. American Long-eared Owl. By Chas. E. Bendire. Ibid., p. 
126. — Average and extremes of measurement of 37 eggs of Asio ameri- 
canus (Sharpe). Q t & O. VS-L VI 2 
> 2 ? 
