496 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. IX. 



Great Horned Owl. 



The Great Horned Owl is rather common throughout heavily 

 wooded portions of Illinois and Wisconsin. Formerly quite common 

 in the vicinity of Chicago, but now rare. It breeds in suitable local- 

 ities in both states. The "hoot" is usually a loud hoo-hoo, hoo-koo, 

 hoo, shorter and deeper toned than that of the Barred Owl. It also 

 utters a variety of unearthly screams. 



Mr. Woodruff (Birds of the Chicago Area) states that "in 1890 

 Mr. Ned Pratt collected several sets of the eggs of this owl near Lake 

 Forest, a short distance north of Chicago." 



Kumlien and Hollister (Birds of Wisconsin) state that it "breeds 

 as early as the middle of February" and is " usually more plenty in 

 the hardwood timber of bottom lands along streams." 



Nests in a hollow tree or in an old hawk's, crow's, or squirrel's 

 nest. The eggs are white, from two to three in number, and measure 

 about 2.20 x 1.82 inches. Nidification begins in February or early in 

 March. Eggs have been taken as early as February first. The Field 

 Museum collection contains a set of 3 eggs taken at Grinnell, Iowa, 

 February 29, 1893. 



