Plaintiffs brought this action to recover costs and attorney fees from their title insurance carrier, contending that defendants breached the contract by refusing to defend a counterclaim asserted against plaintiffs’ earlier action for trespass. The trial court granted defendants’ motion to dismiss the amended complaint for failure to state ultimate facts sufficient to constitute a claim for relief, and plaintiffs appeal from the resulting judgment. We reverse and remand for further proceedings.
In September, 1979, plaintiffs filed an action for trespass against their neighbors, Peter and Susan Nydam, who counterclaimed, alleging, in pertinent part:
“I.
“Defendants * * * are the owners of real property in Lane County, State of Oregon, particularly described in Exhibit ‘A’ attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference as if fully set forth.
“II.
“Defendants and their predecessors have had open, hostile and exclusive possession of the property described in paragraph I above continuously for more than ten (10) years under claim of right and pursuant to a deed and possession of such property is in no other.”
In April, 1981, plaintiffs tendered defense of that counterclaim to defendants, who rejected it, reasoning that the counterclaim was for adverse possession and fell within the exclusionary clauses of the insurance policy. Plaintiffs thereafter successfully defended the counterclaim, incurring costs and attorney fees of $12,229.15. This action followed.
The sole question on appeal is whether the language of the Nydams’ counterclaim, incorporated in plaintiffs’ amended complaint, states a claim which defendant had a contractual duty to defend. Section 3 of the insurance policy provides, in part:
“(a) The Company, at its own cost and without undue delay shall provide * * * (2) for such action as may be appropriate to establish the title of the estate or interest or the lien of the mortgage as insured, which litigation or action in any of such events is founded upon an alleged defect, lien or *542encumbrance insured against by this policy, and may pursue any litigation to final determination in the court of last resort.”
Coverage is limited by Schedule B of the insurance policy, which provides, in part:
“This policy does not insure against loss or damage, nor against costs, attorney’s fees or expenses, any or all of which arise by reason of the matters shown or referred to in this Schedule * * *. <C* * * * *
“2. Any facts, rights, interests, or claims which are not shown by the public records but which could be ascertained by an inspection of said land or by making inquiry of persons in possession thereof.”
An insurance company’s duty to defend is determined by comparing the terms of the insurance policy with the allegations of the underlying pleading. If the pleading, without amendment, contains allegations which, if true, would impose liability for conduct covered by the policy, the insurer is put on notice of the possibility of liability and has a duty to defend. Riedel v. First National Bank, 287 Or 285, 294, 598 P2d 302 (1979); Oakridge Comm. Ambulance v. U.S. Fidelity, 278 Or 21, 24, 563 P2d 164 (1977). If the allegations of the complaint are ambiguous or unclear but may reasonably be interpreted to include an incident within the coverage of the policy, there also is a duty to defend. Blohm et al v. Glens Falls Ins. Co., 231 Or 410, 416, 373 P2d 412 (1962). That is true, even when the pleading on its face alleges facts bringing it within a policy exclusion. Ferguson v. Birmingham Fire Ins., 254 Or 496, 506-07, 460 P2d 342 (1969).
Defendants contend that paragraph II of the Nydams’ counterclaim states a cause of action for adverse possession, which is excluded from coverage, because it is a claim “not shown by the public records.” They apparently dismiss the allegation that the Nydams possessed the property “pursuant to deed” as being the equivalent of possession under “claim of title,” a term the Supreme Court has said
«* * * when used in the books to express adverse intent mean[s] nothing more than the intention of the disseisor to appropriate and use the land as his own to the exclusion of all others, irrespective of any semblance or shadow of actual title *543or right * * *.” Bessler v. Powder River Gold Dredg. Co., 95 Or 271, 279, 185 P 753, 187 P 621 (1919). (Citations omitted.)
The court similarly categorized the terms “claim of right” and “claim of ownership” but did not so categorize the term “pursuant to deed.” Here, the Nydams alleged possession “under claim of right and pursuant to a deed.” (Emphasis supplied.) The allegations concerning adverse possession would be sufficient without the language about the deed. In the absence of the language about the deed, there would be no duty to defend, because that duty only arises when there is some claim shown of record. The allegations of the counterclaim were broad enough to allow proof by the Nydams that they were not trespassers, because either they owned the land by adverse possession or they held the land pursuant to a deed. It would also permit evidence that the deed was recorded. If that were the evidence, defendants’ policy would clearly provide coverage.
In evaluating whether the complaint is vulnerable to a motion to dismiss for failure to state ultimate facts sufficient to constitute a claim for relief,
“* * * we are not permitted to indulge in what the ultimate facts may show which might or might not bring the incident within the liability terms of the policy, but only to inquire whether or not upon fair interpretation of the complaint, a liability may exist under the terms of the policy.” Blohm et al v. Glens Falls Ins. Co., supra, 231 Or at 417.
Defendants appear to argue, however, that, because the allegations of adverse possession are sufficient without the deed language, that language is surplusage and may be disregarded in determining whether a defense must be provided under the policy. They are mistaken. No motion was made to require a separate statement of those two possible defenses. On the face of the complaint, it cannot be determined whether the allegations about the deed or the allegation about adverse possession are surplusage. Either proof the Nydams had adversely possessed the property or that they were owners by deed would have been a full defense to plaintiffs’ claim that they were trespassers.
The motion to dismiss the amended complaint was improperly granted.
*544Reversed and remanded.