234 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



(^KNTS BUBO CrVIKH. 



BUBO VIRGINIANU8 (Gmkl.). 

 1G5. Great Horned Owl. (:^7o) 



Distinguished by its large size, in coniicctioii with the conspicuous ear-tufts ; 

 tlie other species of siniihir dimensions are tuftless. The jihunage varies 

 interminabh', and no concise descrii)tion will meet all its phases ; it is a 

 variegation of blackisli, witli ilaik and light brown, and fulvous. A white 

 collar is the most constant color njark. Length, iiliDut -2 feet; wing, I4I() 

 inches ; tail, 9-10. 



Hab. — Eastern \orth America, west to the Mississi])])i \'alU;y, and from 

 Labrador south to Costa Rica. 



Xest, sometimes in a hollow tree, or cleft of a rock, oi- among the branches 

 of a high tree in the thickest part of the woods, very often the nest of the 

 Red-tailed Hawk is appropriated, or that of other species where available. 



Eggs, two or three, round, white. 



The (xreat Homed Owl i.s well known in Ontario, being generally 

 distributed thioughout the Province. During the day it hides away 

 in the deep impenetrable parts of the wood.s, but at night sallies forth 

 in (juest of prey, and does not hesitate to rob the hen roost, return- 

 ing for that purpo.se night after night, unless stopped V))^ a snaj) shot 

 in the daik, or caught in a trap baited for the purpose. Individuals 

 vary greatly in plumage, so much so that they have been dciscribed as 

 di-stinct .species. Near Hamilton I have found them varying from 

 light silvery-gray to deep fulvous l)rown. I once obtained a very 

 handsome specimen in the latter dress which I was unable to utilize 

 from its having l)een recently in contact with a skunk. It is strictly 

 nocturnal in its hal)its, l>ut when obliged by the attention of crows, 

 or other disturbing causes, to move during the daj^ it makes good use 

 of its eyes, and gets (juickly away to the nearest thicket for shelter. 



This is not the most numerous of the owls which occur w'ith us, 

 but no other membei- of the family receives so much attention. This 

 is owing to its large size, its loud call, -which is heard at a great 

 distance on still evenings in the fall, but chiefly to the raids it makes 

 on the hen roosts. In older countries, where, l)y many of the 

 inhabitants, all the owls are suppo.sed to be to some extent in com- 

 munication with the supernatural agents of evil, this would be 

 regarded as a most "unlucky"' visitoi- ; l»ut in tliis new land we liave 

 no birds of evil omen, and the owl receives his projx^r place in .science 

 and in literature. Longfellow speaks of him as "a grave bird, a monk 

 who chants midni^lit mass in the great temple of nature." 



