BUBO. 18 
Bubo virginianus subarcticus, Allen, Bull. Am. Mus. N. H. v. p. 34"; Jouy, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. 
Xvi. p. 787”. 
Supra sordide cervinus, fusco fasciatus et irregulariter irroratus ; capite summo nigricantiore, plumis auricular- 
ibus elongatis et margine faciei postico nigris, loris et mento albidis: subtus albus, nigro frequenter trans- 
fasciatus, gutture albo ad pectus nigro marginato ; alis griseo-fuscis, fasciis griseis fusco irroratis notatis ; 
cauda sordide cervina, fusco irrorata et fasciis fuscis notata; tibiis cervino-albidis, fusco crebre fasciatis ; 
subalaribus cervino-albis, nigro maculatis: rostro plumbeo, digitis plumosis. Long. tota circa 20:0, 
ale 13°5, caudee 7°7, tarsi 2°5. (Descr. maris ex Duefias, Guatemala, Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Nort America generally.—Mexico, Tamaulipas (Berlandier 8), Hermosillo in 
Sonora (Ferrari-Perez), San Diego (Rodinette'®), Ciudad in Durango (forrer), 
Sierra del Rosario, Ixtlan, Rancho el Zapote, La Venta del Astillero in Jalisco 
(Dr. A.C. Buller, in mus. Rothschild), Wacienda de San Marcos in Jalisco (W. Lloyd), 
Guanajuato (Dugés), Guadalajara (Dugés 1, Jouy*°), Volcan de Colima (W. 
Lloyd), Valley of Mexico (Herrera ®), Coajimalpa (Ferrari-Perez), Chapultepec, 
Monte Alto, San Rafael, Angangueo, Orizaba ?° (Sumichrast 4), Vera Cruz (Sallé*), 
Oaxaca (Boucard*), Cacoprieto 4, Tehuantepec 1° * (Sumichrast), Buctzotz in 
N. Yucatan (G@. F. Gaumer), Merida (Schott ®) ; GuaTemaLa (Constancia 7), Duefias, 
San Geréuimo (0. 8. & F. D. G.5); Nicaraaua, Matagalpa (W. B. Richardson) ; 
Costa Rica, San José (Von Frantzius® ); Panama, Chitra (Arcé °).—SouTH 
America, Guiana, Ecuador. 
Though the Great Horned Owl of Western Mexico and the tablelands has been 
separated as a race from the Kastern bird by recent American writers, our series shows 
that there is practically no difference and that all are inseparable from the common 
bird of the Eastern States of America, Budo virginianus. The bird of the Western 
United States has been called B. virginianus subarcticus, a name now said to apply to 
the race called B. virginianus arcticus of Swainson, a northern bird remarkable for its 
lighter greyer colour, with which none of our Mexican specimens agree. 
The range of B. virginianus throughout Mexico and Central America is probably 
universal from the sea-level to a height of 7000 or 8000 feet in the mountains. We 
constantly met with Owls of this species in Guatemala, and at certain seasons their 
deep-toned cry might be heard nightly. A favourite locality frequented by them was 
a wooded hill-side, skirting the plain of Duefias, not far from the village. Here they 
lived amongst low trees which covered the slope except where a rocky precipice inter- 
vened. ‘The plumage of several birds obtained by us in Guatemala was strongly 
tainted with the odour of the skunk, showing that these animals are attacked, if not 
killed and eaten, by these powerful Owls. 
Captain Bendire 16 and Dr. Fisher 17 have recently given full accounts of this species 
as observed in the United States, and the latter author gives an analysis of the food of 
many dissected birds. Mammals of various sizes, including rats and mice, form the 
chief portion, but birds of various sorts are also eaten, including ducks and grouse. 
Insects are also consumed, and, in one case, fish. 
