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and Hoot Owls, this means nothing as I find they are applied in¬ 
discriminately to the whole list. Here I would note the only 
reported capture of the Barn Owl, in November, 18S6, by Mr. 
Joseph Ryder, in Norwood, Warwick, Rhode Island. This bird 
is most abundant in California, but occurs in Florida and is found 
all over the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 
We next meet with the Long Eared Owl. These are vigorous 
night flyers, feeding upon insects, small quadrupeds and small 
birds. They remain in Rhode Island the year round, but owing 
to their habit of keeping quietly located among thick evergreens 
and in swamps during the day time are not frequently captured. 
Short Eared Owls probably remain with us all winter, and are 
ordinarily found about the marshes and wet meadows. My ex¬ 
perience has been that they are never so common as the last 
species, and less likely to be found during the winter. 
Next claiming attention is the Barred Owl, one of our 
most common species during the winter months. You will please 
note that it has very dark eyes, in the contrast with all the other 
forms except the Barn Owl. During the winter of 18S3 and 1884 
they were wonderfully common and I was cognizant to the capture 
of more than fifty of them. 
Our diminutive species is known as the Saw-Whet or Acadian 
Owl. They are not generally common, yet I would not call them 
rare since they are captured each winter, and this year between 
January 8th, and 21st I know of the taking of several in John¬ 
ston, Seekonk and Arctic. At Arctic, a gentleman breeding 
pigeons discovered that some miscreant had raided his coop, and 
was so successful in setting a trap that he caught the little thief 
inside the premises. They probably escape observ ation, as sitting 
snugly through the day they can easily masquerade as a lump of 
dead leaves or a knot on the limb ; they choose also thick clumps 
of bull-briar and juniper. 
Our most common kind and regular resident is the Screech 
Owl. In the country any clean hole in an apple tree may hold 
its owl. This species is easily distinguished by the prominent 
ear tufts, and exhibits the curious condition of plumage called 
dimorphism, for from the same nest come birds that when ma¬ 
tured, exhibit a plumage decidedly gray or decidedly red-brown, 
