HORNED OWLS, ETC. 



185 



374a. M. f. idahoensiS Merriam. Dwakf 

 IScKEECH Owl. 



Similar to the flaniniulated but smaller and 

 paler, especially on under parts in which the 

 ground is white, and the markings restricted ; 

 facial ring bright tawnv brown. Wing : 4.80. 

 tail 2.42. 



Distribution. — Idaho and eastern Washing- 

 ton. 



GENUS BUBO. 



General Characters. — Length : 18-23 ; ear 

 tufts conspicuous ; ear openings small, without 

 anterior flap, the two ears not distinctly differ- 

 ent ; wing with 2 or ll quills cut out ; toes cov- 

 ered with short but dense feathers ; claws 

 wholly exposed. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



1. Upper parts dark colored. 



2. Feet barred with black and buffy . . 



2'. Feet barred with black and rusty brown 

 r. Upper parts light colored. 



2. Upper parts largely gray and buffy . . 



2'. Upper parts largely white 



From Bi. Ic-uMi Mirvcy. U. S. 



Dept. of Agriculture. 



Fig. 24S. Dwarf Screech Owl. 



. . pacificus, p. 186. 



. . . saturatus. p. 186. 



. . pallescens, p. 185. 

 . . . arcticus. p. 186. 



375a. Bubo virginianiis pallescens Stone. Western Horned 

 Owl. 



/[(hilts. — Ear tufts blackish ; iris bright yellow ; ring around face black ; 

 throat white ; rest of under parts white or buffy, mottled and barred' with 

 brownish; flanks buffy; upper parts mottled dark brown, light grayish. 

 and huSy, lighter colors prevailing ; wiwi:; quills and tail banded with dull 

 brown ; whole plumage irregularly varied with buffy, tawny, wliitish. and 

 dusky. Young: wing quills and tail feathers as in adult, rest of phimage 

 dull buft'y or ochraceous, everywhere barred with dusky. Male : length 

 18-23, extent about 4!l-.")2, wing about 14.50-15.25, tail 8.25. Female: 

 length 22-25, extent about 57. wing 16, tail 9. 



Distribution. — Western United States, east through the Pl.ains. casually 

 to Wisconsin and Illinois; and from British Columbia and Manitoba south 

 over the Mc.vican t.iblelands. 



Nest. — A liolp in a hollow tree, cliff, bank, or cave, or an old nest of a 

 crow or hawk. Eggs : usually 2 or 3, white. 



Food. — Largely mammals such as rabbits, prairie dogs, ground scjuir- 

 rels. skunks, and wood rats, game birds, waterfowl, smaller land birds. 

 and, in settled regions, poultry. 



The eyesight of the horned owls seems to be better than tliat of 

 most owls, and Dr. Fisher thinks that in the breedin.g soastni they 

 hunt indifferently night or day. In disposition, he says, they are 

 "fierce and untamable, and in point of strength and courage infe- 

 rior to none of our rapacious birds." Speaking of their food habits, 

 the doctor says that "a bird so powerful and voracious may at times 

 be a source of great benefit, while at other times it mav be the cause 



