108 
STRIX NEBULOSA. 
feet. Their nest was probably not far distant. I have 
also seen the eggs of this species, which are nearly as 
large as those of a young pullet, but much more globular, 
and perfectly white. 
These birds sometimes seize on fowls, partridges, and 
young rabbits ; mice and small game are, however, their 
most usual food. The difference of size between the 
male and female of this owl is extraordinary, amounting 
sometimes to nearly eight inches in the length. Both 
scream during day, like a hawk. 
The male barred owl measures sixteen inches and a 
half in length, and thirty-eight inches in extent; upper 
parts a pale brown, marked with transverse spots of 
white ; wings, barred with alternate bands of pale 
brown, and darker ; head, smooth, very large, mottled 
with transverse touches of dark brown, pale brown, 
and white ; eyes, large, deep bine, the pupil not per- 
ceivable ; face, or radiated circle of the eyes, grey, 
surrounded by an outline of brown and white dots ; 
bill, yellow, tinged with green; breast, barred trans- 
versely with rows of brown and white ; belly, streaked 
longitudinally with long stripes of brown, on a yellowish 
ground ; vent, plain yellowish white ; thighs and 
feathered legs, the same, slightly pointed with brown ; 
toes, nearly covered with plumage ; claws, dark horn 
colour, very sharp ; tail, rounded, and remarkably con- 
cave below, barred with six broad bars of brown, and 
as many narrow ones of white ; the back and shoulders 
have a cast of chestnut ; at each internal angle of the 
eye, is a broad spot of black ; the plumage of the 
radiated circle round the eye ends in long black hairs ; 
and the bill is encompassed by others of a longer and 
more bristly kind. These probably serve to guard the 
eye when any danger approaches it in sweeping hastily 
through the woods ; and those usually found on fly- 
catchers may have the same intention to fulfil; for, on 
the slightest touch of the point of any of these hairs, the 
nictitant membrane was instantly thrown over the eye. 
The female is twenty-two inches long, and four feet 
in extent ; the chief difference of colour consists in her 
