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367. SHORT-EARED OWL. _Asio flammeus._
Range.--Whole of North America, breeding from the middle portions of the United States northward, and wintering in the United States.
This species is of the size of the last, but is paler, has very short ear tufts, and is streaked beneath. Its habits are the same except that it frequently hunts, over the marshes and meadows, on dark days and towards dusk.
Their four to seven pure white eggs are laid upon the ground in marshy places, sometimes upon a lining of sticks and weeds, and are generally under a bush, or close to an old log. Size of eggs 1.55 1.25.
368. BARRED OWL. _Strix varia varia._
Range.--Eastern North America, from the British Provinces, southward; west to the Rockies.
This species is the most common of the large owls, and can be distinguished by its mottled and barred gray and white plumage, and lack of ear tufts; length 20 inches. It is the bird commonly meant by the term "hoot owl", and being strictly nocturnal, is rarely seen flying in the day time, unless disturbed from its roosting place in the deep woods. Its food consists chiefly of rats, mice and frogs, and sometimes, but not often, poultry. It nests in the heart of large woods, generally in hollows of large trees, and less often in deserted Crow's nests. They lay from two to four pure white eggs, averaging considerably smaller than those of the Great Horned Owl; size 1.95 1.65.
368a. FLORIDA BARRED OWL. _Strix varia alleni._
Range.--Florida and the Gulf States; north to South Carolina.
[Ill.u.s.tration 231: Short-eared Owl.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: Barred Owl.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]
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[Ill.u.s.tration 232: Chas. W. Long.
BARRED OWL.]
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368b. TEXAS BARRED OWL. _Strix varia albogilva._
Range.--Southern Texas.
A very similar but slightly paler variety than the Barred Owl, and with the toes bare, as in _alleni._ Eggs indistinguishable.
369. SPOTTED OWL. _Strix occidentalis occidentalis._
Range.--Western United States, from southern Oregon and Colorado, southward.
Similar to the Barred Owl, but spotted, instead of barred, on the back of head and neck, and much more extensively barred on the under parts.
The nesting habits do not appear to differ in any respect from those of the eastern Barred Owl, and their eggs, which are from two to four in number, can not be distinguished from those of the latter species; size 2.05 1.80.
369a. NORTHERN SPOTTED Owl. _Strix occidentalis caurina._
Range.--Northwestern United States and British Columbia.
Similar to the preceding, but darker, both above and below; nesting the same, in hollow trees or in old Hawk's or Crow's nests. Eggs not distinguishable.
370. Great Gray Owl. _Scotiaptex nebulosa._
Range.--Northern North America; wintering regularly south to the northern border of the United States and casually farther.
This is the largest of American Owls, being about 26 inches in length; it does not weigh nearly as much, however, as the Great Horned or Snowy Owls, its plumage being very light and fluffy, and dark gray in color, mottled with white. The facial disc is very large, and the eyes are small and yellow, while those of the Barred Owl are large and blue black. They nest in heavily wooded districts, building their nests of sticks, chiefly in pine trees. The two to four white eggs are laid during May and June; size 2.15 1.70.
[Ill.u.s.tration 233: Great Gray Owl.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]
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370a. LAPP OWL. _Scotiaptex nebulosa lapponica._
A paler form of the Great Gray Owl, inhabiting the Arctic regions of the Old World; accidental on the coast of Alaska. Their nesting habits and eggs do not differ from those of the American bird.
371. RICHARDSON'S OWL. _Cryptoglaux funerea richardsoni._
Range.--Northern North America, breeding north of the United States; winters south to our border and casually farther.
This is a dark grayish and white bird, 10 inches in length, and without ear tufts. Breeds commonly in the extensively wooded districts of British America, chiefly in the northern parts. Their three or four white eggs are usually at the bottom of a cavity in a tree, but occasionally the birds build a rude nest of sticks and twigs, lined with leaves and placed in trees at a moderate height from the ground. Size of eggs, 1.25 1.05.
372. SAW-WHET OWL; ACADIAN OWL. _Cryptoglaux acadica acadica._
Range.--North America, breeding in the northern parts of the United States and in British America, and south in the Rockies to Mexico; winters south to the middle portions of the United States.
This small species (length 8 inches) is marked very similarly to the preceding, but the plumage is brown instead of gray. They normally nest in hollow trees, generally in deserted Woodp.e.c.k.e.r holes, in extensively wooded sections, and usually in mountainous country, especially in the United States. They have also been known to nest in bird boxes near farm houses and in old Crow's nests. During April or May, they lay from three to six white eggs. Size 1.20 1.00. They are quiet and chiefly nocturnal birds, not often seen, and may be found nesting in any of the northern states.
372a. NORTHWESTERN SAW-WHET OWL. _Cryptoglaux acadica scotiaea._
Range.--A dark variety found on the coast of British Columbia.
[Ill.u.s.tration 234: Richardson's Owl. Saw-whet Owl.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]
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