ACADIAN OWL. 
275 
DIMENSIONS. 
Dimensions of specimens from Massachusetts and Maine. Average measurements of males. Length, 7'25; stretch, 
19\50; wing, 5 - 25; tail, 2 35; bill, '50; tarsus, ‘95. Longest specimen, 7 - 50; greatest extent of wing, 20‘00; longest wing, 
5 50; tail, 2-50; bill, "55; tarsus, 1‘00. Shortest specimen, 7 - 00; smallest extent of wing, 19‘00; shortest wing, 5‘00; tail, 
2 25; bill, -45; tarsus ‘90. 
Average measurements of female specimens. Length, 8-25; stretch, 20 - 25; wing 5 - 50; tail, 2 - 50; bill, "55; tarsus, 1‘05. 
Longest specimen, 8'50; greatest extentofwing, 20 - 50; longest wing, 5'75; tail, 2'75; bill, '60; tarsus, 1'10. Shortest spec¬ 
imen, 8'00; smallest extent of wing, 20'00; shortest wing, 5 25; tail, 2‘35; bill, '50; tarsus, l'OO. 
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, three or four in number, rather spherical in form, pure white in color, with the surface very smooth. Dimen¬ 
sions from l‘00xl’20 to 1‘05x 1'25. 
HABITS. 
I have said that the Mottled Owls were of retiring habits, on account of which they 
were very seldom seen, and the same is true, but to a greater extent, of the little Acadian 
Owls, for although there can be but little doubt that they occur quite commonly throughout 
the country, yet they are not often seen;, their peculiar, rasping notes are, however, not 
unfrequently heard in the woods. These birds appear to be the least shy of all the Owls, 
allowing one to approach very near them when surprised outside their holes; in fact, I have 
known of their being killed with a stick or even taken alive in the hand. When captured, 
they readily become tame, behaving, while in captivity, in a similar manner to the Mottled 
Owl. As both of these species enter holes quite readily, they may be easily taken by fast¬ 
ening small boxes, provided with a suitable orifice, on limbs of trees in the woods and this 
artifice is successfully practiced by a friend who takes both species in this way during win¬ 
ter. He puts up his traps, as he calls them, then visits them regularly, securing a consid¬ 
erable number of specimens during the season, for the Owls enter them as readily as they 
do cavities in trees. 
I have somewhere seen it stated that Owls do not drink, but all that I ever had, were 
very fond of water and would not only drink it but would frequently bathe. Scopsie is 
especially noticeable in this respect, as are all the Mottled Owls and they may often be 
seen in the water during twilight or early in the morning. I once surprised a Barred Owl 
on the margin of a river in Florida and a short time ago, an Acadian Owl was brought in 
which was killed by a gentleman while Woodcock shooting, he having found the bird in a 
small stream. 
The Acadian Owds breed about the same time as the Mottled Owls, usually choosing 
a hole in a tree on the margin of a wood or in it but they will sometimes select an old apple 
tree in an orchard for this purpose. The notes, during- the nesting season, are described 
as being peculiar but I never heard them utter any, excepting the rasping sound which is 
evidently given as a kind of call and from which the name of Saw-whet Owls, occasionally 
applied to them, is derived. These little Owls are not migratory but they do wander some¬ 
what during winter, at least, they are much more commonly found then than during the 
summer. 
