296 BULLETIN 17 0, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



South America, from the Arctic regions in the North to the Straits of 

 Magellan in the South. Many races have been described, but only 

 those included in the latest Check-List (1931) will be considered in 

 this work. 



Our eastern race particularly is essentially a bird of the heavily 

 forested regions, where it finds seclusion and ample food supply in the 

 dense, dark woods. Where there are extensive forests, well stocked 

 with small game, it is a common bird, but it is also found in lesser 

 numbers where scattered woodlands still remain and where it can 

 prey on poultry yards and game preserves. In my local territory, in 

 southeastern Massachusetts, the distribution of the great horned owl 

 coincides with that of the red-tailed hawk; I have always considered 

 these two as complementary species, one hunting by night and one 

 by day in the same region; the same relation seems to exist between 

 the barred owl and the red-shouldered hawk. We usually find the 

 great horned owl nesting in old nests of the red-tailed hawk, but I 

 have never found these two species nesting in the same tract of timber 

 simultaneously, as the barred owl and the red-shouldered hawk often 

 do. I believe that the great horned owl will not tolerate the nesting 

 of any other raptorial bird anywhere near its own nest. 



Courtship. — During the January thaw, or on the first soft, warm 

 evenings in February, we used to listen for the love songs of these 

 owls, for they start their preparations for nesting very early in the 

 season, and they are very noisy at this time; their prolonged hootings 

 at this season have often helped to locate a nesting pair; but I have 

 never been fortunate enough to see the courtship performance. Dr. 

 Lynds Jones wrote to Major Bendire (1892): "I once had the good 

 fortune to steal unnoticed upon a pair of these birds in their love 

 making. The ceremony had evidently been in progress some time. 

 When discovered the male was carefully approaching the female, 

 which stood on a branch, and she half turned away like a timid girl. 

 He then fondly stroked his mate with his bill, bowed solemnly, touched 

 or rubbed her bill with his, bowed again, sidled into a new position 

 from time to time, and continued his caresses. All these attentions 

 were apparently bashfully received by the female. Soon thereafter 

 the pair flew slowly away side by side." 



Floyd Bralliar (1922) gives the following account of it: 



So he began bowing his head, ruffling his feathers, raising his wings and spread- 

 ing his wings in a curious manner. * * * Aside from watching his antics, 

 she took no notice of his presence. Growing more earnest, he began hopping 

 from branch to branch, continuing his maneuvers and snapping his bill fiercely 

 as if to show that even tho he was not so large as she, what he lacked in size he 

 made up in bravery. 



Finally, he attempted to approach and caress her but she ruffled her feathers 

 and rebuked him sharply. He took flight, sailing up and down, around and 

 around, evidently doing all the stunts of his race, now and again punctuating his 



