MOTTLED OWL. 
271 
as both plumages are found equally common both North and South. Parents of the same color will produce young which 
are in both stages of plumage and, if one parent chances to be gray and the other red, or vice versa, the young may be all 
red or all gray, or part of the number red and the remainder gray, or individuals among them may assume the intermediate 
stage; in short, there appears to be absolutely no rule by which these changes can be determined. No one, however, will 
mistake this well-known Owl for any other species, for the small size, compact form, and prominent ear tufts, together 
with the colors as described will serve to distinguish it. There is a rather small Florida form of this species but they do 
not differ much from more Northern Owls, excepting in being a little darker, for I have found all the stages described, as 
common there as they are in Massachusetts. Distributed, as a constant resident, throughout North America to the Arctic 
Circle. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Dimensions of specimens from Massachusetts and Florida. Average measurements of males. Length, 8‘50; stretch, 
20'00; wing, 6'40; tail, 3‘25; bill, ‘75; tarsus, T25. Longest specimen, 9-00; greatest extent of wing, 2100; longest wing, 
7’00; tail, 350; bill, '80; tarsus, l - 50. Shortest specimen, 8 - 00; smallest extent of wing, 18'00; shortest wing, 5'95; tail, 
290; bill, '55; tarsus, 105. 
Average measurements of female specimens. Length, 9 - 00; stretch, 22-50; wing, 6'25; tail, 3 - 00; bill, ’85; tarsus, 1’40. 
Longest specimen, 9‘50; greatest extent of wing, 23’85; longest wing, 7’30; tail, 355; bill, -90; tarsus, 1*50. Shortest spec¬ 
imen, 8’50; smallest extent of wing, 21-50; shortest wing, 5-90; tail, 2'55; bill, ‘80; tarsus, 1-30. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed in holes of trees, not elaborately constructed, composed of grass, leaves, etc.; or the eggs are often placed 
on any material which chances to be at the bottom of the hole. 
Eggs, from New England, four to six in number, rather spherical in form, pure white in color, with the surface very 
smooth. Dimensions from 1'20 x 1'45 to l - 40 x 1'60. The number of eggs deposited in Florida is seldom, if ever, more 
than three. They are of a similar form to those from further North but are considerably smaller, measuring 1’lOx 1 30 to 
115x1-40. 
HABITS. 
The Mottled Owls are among the most abundant of the order in North America, yet 
their habits are scarcely known to the majority of the people among which they dwell; in¬ 
deed, ornithologists are, as a rule, not familiar with these bird's, judging from the state¬ 
ments which they have made concerning them and, until quite recently, even the various 
stages of plumages assumed by them, were not well understood. Now I do not mean to 
intimate that I possess any more sagacity than my colaborers when I make the above as¬ 
sertions, for I have doubtless made more or less mistakes, though unwittingly, in reference 
to what I have said about some birds, but in regard to the species now under consideration, 
I feel as if I had the subject well in hand as there has scarcely been a time for the past 
ten or twelve years, when I did not have a Mottled Owl as a pet and, as I write, a fine 
male is sitting on his accustomed roost near, gazing wisely at me out of a pair of bright 
yellow eyes. 
I have begun my article by saying that the Mottled Owls were very abundant and 
they are much more numerous than any one would suppose who has not searched for them. 
They are very retiring in habit, living in holes throughout the day almost exclusively; in 
fact, it is rare to find one sitting on a tree and, with all my experience with the species, 
I do not think that.I have seen a dozen specimens in such an exposed situation. They 
are quite timid and Scopsie, my pet Owl, when frightened, will fly to his box and dart in¬ 
to it; thus the habit of seeking protection in holes appears to be instinctive. When the 
Mottled Owls are surprised outside their domiciles during daylight, they will half close 
their eyes, raise their ear tufts, draw their feathers close to their body, appearing exactly 
