BARRED OWL. 
107 
the bill, where the plumage is whitish ; ears, bordered 
with a semicircular line of black and tawny yellow 
dots ; tail, rounded, longer than usual with owls, 
crossed with five bands of dark brown, and as many of 
yellow ochre, — some of the latter have central spots of 
dark brown, — the whole tipt with white; quills also 
banded with dark brown and yellow ochre ; breast 
and belly streaked with dark brown, on a ground of 
yellowish ; legs, thighs, and vent, plain dull yellow ; 
tips of the three first quill feathers, black ; legs, clothed 
to the claws, which are black, curved to about the 
quarter of a circle, and exceedingly sharp. 
The female I have never seen ; but she is said to be 
somewhat larger, and much darker ; and the spots on 
the breast larger, and more numerous. 
32 . STMX NEBULOSA, LINNAEUS. BARRED OWL. 
WILSON, PL. XXVIII. FIG. II. — EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
This is one of our most common owls. In winter 
particularly, it is numerous in the lower parts of 
Pennsylvania, among the woods that border the exten- 
sive meadows of Schuylkill and Delaware. It is very 
frequently observed flying during day, and certainly 
sees more distinctly at that time than many of its genus. 
In one spring, at different times, I met with more than 
forty of them, generally flying, or sitting exposed. I 
also once met with one of their nests, containing three 
young, in the crotch of a white oak, among thick 
foliage. The nest was rudely put together, composed 
outwardly of sticks, intermixed with some dry grass 
and leaves, and lined with smaller twigs. At another 
time, in passing through the woods, I perceived some- 
thing white, on the high shaded branch of a tree, close 
to the trunk, that, as I thought, looked like a cat 
asleep. Unable to satisfy myself, 1 was induced to fire, 
when, to my surprise and regret, four young owls, of 
this same species, nearly full grown, came down head- 
long, and, fluttering for a few moments, died at my 
