604 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. 
tlie deserted nest of a Woodpecker is taken. Sometimes, when 
there is a scarcity of suitable trees, a cavity in a telegraph pole 
is made to serve the purpose. There is no lining to the nest 
unless the bottom of the cavity happens to be covered with hits 
of wood. One nest observed was situated in a dead stub stand¬ 
ing in a strip of small timber bordering a creek. The cavity 
had, apparently, been made by a Woodpecker. It was about 
two and one-half feet deep and contained four fresh eggs on 
June 6. The ground color of the eggs is creamy white, marked 
with numerous small dots, spots, and splashes of chestnut brown. 
The eggs measure about 1.35x1.11. 
367. Short-EIared Owl. 
Asia accipitrinus (Pall.). 
Only one or two of these birds were seen and no nests were 
found. One of the inhabitants of the region stated that he had 
seen several nests of the bird in the past two or three years. 
They were situated on the ground, generally on the low, marshy 
prairie where there was a scattering growth of bush willows. 
375a. Western Horned Owl. 
Bubo virginianus subarcticus (Hoy). 
Two young Horned Owls about two-thirds grown, were found 
May 30, perched on a rude platform of sticks which was ap¬ 
parently the remains of the nest. The tree which held the nest 
was in a growth of poplars near the edge of Basin Lake. The 
height at which the nest was built was about twenty-five feet. 
The parent O'wls were not far off and made their appearance 
when the observer approached the young birds. They alighted 
on trees close at hand and expressed their disapproval of the in¬ 
trusion by sharply snapping their beaks. The observer had 
partly ascended the tree, in order to get one of the young owls, 
when he was very forcibly surprised by a sharp blow on the 
head. Turning quickly, he saw that one of the old Owls was 
the offender. The bird made repeated dashes but did not repeat 
its first act, preferring to keep out of reach of a. branch which 
the intruder had broken off for self-protection. 
