OTUS VULGARIS. 
265 
OTUS VULGARIS. 
Long-eared Owl. 
Otus vulgaris Flem., British Animals; 1828, 60. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Ch. Form, slender. Size, medium. Sternum, not stout. The marginal indentations are quite deep. Tongue, 
rather thick and fleshy, horny at the tip which is rounded and slighty bifid. Ear tufts, long. 
Color. Adult. Above, very dark-brown, with the feathers edged, mottled, spotted, and barred with yellowish- 
rufous, and ashy-white. Rump, wholly yellowish-rufous, barred with dusky. Wings, dark-brown, barred with yellowish- 
rufous, which becomes lighter on the inner webs and nearly white, below. Tail, also very dark-brown, widely barred with 
yellowish-rufous which becomes nearly white on the lower side. Beneath, including under wing and tail coverts, tibia, 
and tarsus, yellowish-white, broadly streaked with dark-brown on the body. There is a prominent spot of dark-brown on 
the under wing coverts near the outer edge. The face is white mixed with dusky, and a ring of dark-brown entirely sur¬ 
rounds the eye. 
Young. Similar to the adult but show much more rufous on the upper surface while the same color predominates on 
the lower portions. 
Nestlings. Are at first covered with a yellow down and, in time, gradually assume the second plumage. Iris, yellow, 
cere, greenish, bill and claws, dark-brown, in all stages. Sexes, similar in color. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Specimens of the same age and sex are usually quite uniform in color, for Owls. This handsome Owl is readily known 
from the preceding species by the long ear tufts and dark tints, and from all others by the long wings, combined with the 
colors as described. Distributed, as a constant resident, throughout the entire extent of North America, and is also found 
in the Old World. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of male specimens. Length, 1P50; stretch, 39-50; wing, 12-70; tail, 6*00; bill, '85; tarsus, 
POO. Longest specimen, 15-00; greatest extent of wing, 41 - 00; longest wing, I3 - 00; tail, 0-20; bill, P00; tarsus, P75. 
Shortest specimen, 14'00; smallest extent of wing, 37-00; shortest wing, 1P80; tail, 5"80; bill, -70; tarsus, P50. 
Average measurements of female specimens. Length, 14-75; stretch, 4(1-00; wing, 13*00; tail, 6'30; bill, -90; tarsus, 
1-80. Longest specimen, 15*50; greatest extent of wing, 42-00; longest wing, 13-50; tail, 6-60; bill, P10; tarsus, P90. 
Shortest specimen, 14-25; smallest extent of wing, 39-00; shortest wing, 12-50; tail, 6 - 00; bill, *80; tarsus, P70. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, not very bulky structures, placed either on the ground, in low bushes, or in trees. They are composed of sticks, 
twigs, grass, etc., lined with grass and leaves, or occasionally remodeled on the nests of other birds. 
Eggs, four or five in number, quite elliptical in form, white in color, with the surface very smooth. Dimensions from 
1-30x1-40 to 1-40x1-65. 
HABITS. 
Although closely allied to the Short-eared Owls in many respects, the birds now in 
hand, ditfer widely from them in habits. As already shown in the preceding page, the 
Short-eared prefer the open country but the Long-eared Owls are almost exclusively in¬ 
habitants of the woods, seldom being found elsewhere; in fact, they rather choose the 
darkest swamps in which to roost by day but it is probable that they emerge from these 
secluded retreats by night in order to hunt mice and small birds which form the greater 
portion of their food. When surprised in these gloomy retreats, they will seldom start but 
will merely sit perfectly quiet and gaze at the intruder with half-closed eyes, erect ear 
tufts, and with the feathers drawn closely to the body, which gives them a most grotesque 
appearance. When captured, they are very gentle, seldom attempting to bite but will 
ruffle their feathers, expand their wings, and snap their bills fiercely, after the manner of 
all Owls when annoyed. 
