Real old birds have the head whiter, and less white edging to the back feathers, than do the young. Feet very strong, and very hard and rough, perfectly adapted to grasping slippery fish; outer toe can be used equally as well, either in front or behind, when perching or grasping their prey. Probably this great fisherman is as well known from one end of the country to the other as any of our wild birds. He is protected by law in a great many states and by custom in nearly all localities where they breed. It is one of the pleasantest sights along the coast to watch a number of these great birds as they soar at an elevation above the water, watching for fish to come near the surface, when, with folded wings, the bird speeds downward and plunges into the water, rarely missing his prey. In many localities they are very tame and nest in the vicinity of houses, sometimes even in the yard. Their nests are platforms of sticks, which, being used year after year and constantly added to, become of enormous proportions. They lay two or three eggs of a bright creamy color, handsomely blotched with bright chestnut brown. They show a great diversity of size as well as markings, but average 2.40 × 1.80. [Illustration 227: American Osprey.] [Illustration.] [Illustration: right hand margin.] Page 226 [Illustration 228: C. A. Reed. OSPREY LEAVING NEST.] Page 227 BARN OWLS. Family Alucondidae 365. BARN OWL. _Aluco pratincola._ Range.--Chiefly in the southern parts of the United States; north casually to Massachusetts, Minnesota and Washington. This is one of the lightest colored of the Owls; it has a long, peculiarly hooded face, from which it gets the name of "Monkey-faced Owl." Its plumage is yellowish buff, specked and barred lightly with blackish. It nests usually in hollow cavities of trees, but appears to have no objections to barns, holes in banks, or anywhere it can find a concealed crevice in which to deposit its four to six pure white eggs; size 1.70 × 1.30. HORNED OWL. Family Strigidae 366. LONG-EARED OWL. _Asio wilsonianus._ Range.--North America, breeding from the southern parts of British America, southward. This species is 15 inches in length; it can easily be separated from any other species by its long ear tufts, brownish face, and barred underparts. Their food consists almost entirely of small rodents, which they catch at night. Most of their nests are found in trees, they generally using old Crow's or Hawk's nests. They also, in some localities, nest in hollow trees, or in crevices among rocks. They lay from four to seven pure white eggs; size 1.55 × 1.35. [Illustration 229: White.] [Illustration: Barn Owl.] [Illustration: Long-eared Owl.] [Illustration: White.] [Illustration: right hand margin.] Page 228 [Illustration 230: L. S. Horton. LONG-EARED OWL ON NEST.] Page 229 367. SHORT-EARED OWL. _Asio flammeus._