AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 61 
(os LONG-EARED OWL. 
Asio wilsonianus (Less.). 
Resident; tolerably common. Frequents deep woods. 
68. SHORT-EARED OWL. 
Asio accipitrinus (Pall.). 
Resident; tolerably common. Frequents the low grassy 
meadows, over which it may sometimes be seen hunting in the 
day time. The food of this species consists chiefly of mice, 
sqirrels, insects, and occasionally small birds. Seldom, if ever, 
does it prey upou the farmer’s chickens. 
69. BARRED OWL. 
Syrnium nebulosum (Frost.). 
Resident; common, Large numbers of this species are 
found throughout the mountain ranges. Mice and insects con- 
stitute the principal food of the Barred Owl. 
LQ, SAW-WHET OWL. 
Nyctala aeadica (Gmel.). 
Rare; probably resident in the mountains. I did not en- 
counter it until the last of October, at which time I heard an in- 
dividual in the evening, along Cheat River. 
ree SCREECH OWL. 
Megascops asio (Linn.). 
Resident; abundant. Generally distribnted throughout all 
localities. A very useful species, destroying large numbers of 
mice and noxious insects. 
KOM GHEAT HORNED OW EE. 
Bubo virginianus (Gmel.). 
Resident; common, This powerful bird is the largest Owl 
found in the State. It frequents heavy timber and is seen 
only occasionally during the day. When thus found and 
started it is sure to attract the attention of a large audience of 
small birds. Stomachs of specimens secured contained the re- 
mains of a rabbit, crawfish, and May beetle. 
