OWLS. 21;; 
     
    
   
   
    
     The note of the, Fish Ilawk is a high, ‘a-pidly repeated, plaintive 
     
     whistle. 
     
    
   
   
    
     FAMILY STRIGIDIE. BARN OWLs. 
     
    
   
   
    
     'I‘he l’nirn Owls. numbering some eight or ten species. are found 
     
     nearly throughout the temperate and tropical regions. They ditl'er 
     
     from other Owls in structure, but share with them the characteristic 
     
     habits of the suborder b'lrt'ges. 
     
    
   
   
    
     365. Strix pratincola. Bum/11. Animumx l’uuy Own: Moxkrzv- 
     
     FAVE” ()wL. (See Fig. :30.) .lrl.—-L'pper parts mixed gray and oehraeeons- 
     
     butt". finely speckled with black and white: tail varying from white to oehra— 
     
     eeous-butl'. generally mottled with black. and sometimes with three or tour 
     
     narrow black bars: under parts and facial disk varying from pure white to 
     
     deep Oelil'ueevbus-bull, the former generally with numerous small. black, round 
     
     spots, the facial disk narrowly nun‘gined by oehraeeous—butl or rut‘ous; eyes 
     
     black. l... 15"“: \\'.. 13' : T.. 5'50; 13.. 1‘30. 
     
    

    
     It‘d/[yuixttl'tll America: (measionally found as far north as Massachu— 
     
     setts. and breeds from Long Island southward through Mexico. 
     
    

    
     Washington. not rare 1’. ll. Sing Sing, A. V. 
     
    
   
   
    
        
     
    
   
   
    
     Max-l, in a tower or steeple, a hole in a tree or bank. [Lilli/Nytive to nine, 
     
     1‘7‘2 x 1‘30. 
     
    

    
     The Barn Owl conceals itself so well during the day that, in my 
     
     experience. it is a ditllcult bird to observe, even in localities where it is 
     
     common. For this reason the capture of one of these odd—visaged 
     
     birds is frequently the cause of much excitement over the supposed 
     
     discovery of an animal entirely new to science. and which, by the local 
     
     press. is generally considerwl half bird. half monkey! 
     
    

    
     The only notes I have ever heard from the Barn Owl are a sudden 
     
     wild. startling scr'ain, a high. rapidly repeated rr-r-rew, cr-r-ree, 
     
     rr-r—ree. and. in captive birds, a hissing sound; but (‘aptain Bendire 
     
     mentions “a feeble. querulous note like qtziie/r-qm‘ip/r. or (Felt-(tel; 
     
     sounding somewhat like the call of the Night Hawk ((,'/un'dez'1es L-z'r- 
     
     gim'anus). frequently repeated. only not so loud.” 
     
    

    
     “0f 29 stomachs examined. 1 contained poultry; 3, other birds; 
     
     17, mice: 17, other mammals; 4, insects; and ’7 were empty ” (Fisher). 
     
    
   
   
    
     FAMILY BUBONIDJE. HORNED OWLS. HOOT OWLs. ETC. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Owls are found in all parts of the world. About two hundred spe- 
     
     cies are known. of which some twenty inhabit North America. With 
     
     few exceptions Owls are woodland birds. but some species live in 
     
     grassy marshes or dry plains, while others make their home in towers, 
     
     steeples. or outbuildings. ()wls are nocturnal birds of prey. and for