. A popular handbook of the ornithology of eastern North America . le. Like all other migrating birds, roving indif-ferently over the country in quest of food alone, these Owlshave sometimes been seen in considerable numbers together;Bewick even remarks that 28 of them had been counted atonce in a turnip-field in England. They are also numerous inHolland in the months of September and October, and in allcountries are serviceable for the destruction they make amonghouse and field mice, their principal food. Although theyusually breed in high ground, they have also been observed inEurope to nest
. A popular handbook of the ornithology of eastern North America . le. Like all other migrating birds, roving indif-ferently over the country in quest of food alone, these Owlshave sometimes been seen in considerable numbers together;Bewick even remarks that 28 of them had been counted atonce in a turnip-field in England. They are also numerous inHolland in the months of September and October, and in allcountries are serviceable for the destruction they make amonghouse and field mice, their principal food. Although theyusually breed in high ground, they have also been observed inEurope to nest in marshes, in the middle of the high herbage,— a situation chosen both for safety and solitude. This is one of the commonest of the New England Owls, andhas been supposed to breed in all the suitable marsh land alongthe coast, but Mr. William Brewster states that he knows of noauthentic record of its breeding in any part of New England withinthe past ten years. It ranges north to the fur countries, south tothe Gulf States and beyond, and west to the BARRED OWL. HOOT OWL. nebulosum. Char. Above, brown barred, spotted, and striped with dull gray ortawny ; below, similar colors of paler tints; face, gray stripes; tailbarred ; iris brownish black ; bill yellow. Length 1934^ to 24 inches. Easily distinguished from all other species by its dark eyes. iViSt. Usually in a hollow tree, but often a deserted nest of Crow orHawk is re-lined and used. Eggs. 2-4; white and nearly spherical ; X This species inliabits the northern regions of both the oldand new continent, but with this difference, as in the BaldEagle, that in the ancient continent it seldom wanders be-yond the Arctic circle, being found no farther to the south thanSweden and Norway; while in America it dwells and breedsat least in all the intermediate region from Hudsons Bay toFlorida, being considerably more numerous even than otherspecies throughout the swamps and dark forests of the South-
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Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbirdsnorthamerica
