306 HISTORY OF THE 



night wanderings impressed the superstitious with the thought 

 that they were the embodiment of evil spirits, and tlieir hoots 

 that broke the stillness of night struck terror to their hearts, as 

 well as to the awakened birds upon the perch, and their voice 

 was supposed to bode no good, and their silent visits the fore- 

 runner of death. But of late years, as we come to know their 

 ways and habits better, we more properly associate them with 

 the feline race — emblems of desolation; and this powerful bird 

 may well be called the tiger among birds. Its loud, guttural, 

 "Whaugh, ho, hoo, hoo," is not only a note of love, but one of 

 defiance. The birds are, however, very attentive parents, both 

 assisting in hatching and rearing their young. The female (as 

 is the case with nearly all birds of prey) is the larger bird, in 

 order to protect the family in case of a quarrel with her mate, 

 and from his too aggressive advances. 



It nests in natural cavities of trees, deserted nests of Hawks, 

 and, on the plains or prairies, in fissures of rocks; nest scantily 

 lined with leaves and grasses. Eggs two to four, 2.25x1.90; 

 white; in form, subspherical. 



Bubo virginianus subarcticus (Hoy). 



MrESTERN HORNED OWL. 

 PLATE XX. 



Resident in western Kansas; rare. 



B. . K. 405a. C. 4(53. G. , 144. U. 375a. 



Habitat. Western United States; north into Manitoba; south 

 over the table lands of Mexico; east across the Great Plains to 

 western Texas and western Manitoba; straggling occasionally 

 eastward. 



Sp. Chab. "Pattern of coloration like that of B. virginianus, but the general 

 aspect much lighter and more grayish, caused by a greater prevalence of the 

 lighter tints, and contraction of dark peucilings; the ochraceous much lighter 

 and less rufous; face soiled white, instead of deep dingy rufous." 



This western form does not appear to differ in size, actions 

 or habits from the Great Horned Owl. 



Genus NYCTEA Stephens. 

 Ear tufts rudimentary; tail not reaching beyond tips of lower coverts; four 

 outer quills with inner webs emargiuated; toes covered with long, hair-like 

 feathers, partly or wholly concealing the claws; bill nearly concealed by the 

 loral feathers. {Bidgway.) 



