56 BIRDS OF P. E. ISLAND. 



(DtoU. 



In Prince Edward Island we have seven Owls, 

 all fluffy grey, or brown, lovers of the darkness, 

 seeking their prey during the shadowy hours and 

 hiding in the darkest thickets during the day. 

 The Great Snowy Owl alone hawks over the 

 crystal fields of winter in broad daylight. It is 

 an Arctic bird coming down from the desolate 

 regions of Labrador only during the severest 

 weather to search for mice, shrews, and other 

 small quadrupeds on our less deeply inundated 

 fields. Its plumage is white with dusky spots. 



I'he Great Horned Owl (Bubo Virginianus) is 

 is a huge, dark -colored owl of the primative 

 forest, two feet in length and four feet in extent 

 of wings, conspicuously marked by two large tufts 

 of feathers which stand erect on its head like 

 great ears. It sometimes comes about farm 

 houses, robbing poultry yards, and making night 

 hideous with its dismal hooting. These great birds 

 lay but two eggs in the naked hollow of a tree. 



The Screech Owl is a miniature Bubo and not 

 half the size of Virginiafius. It is strictly noc- 

 turnal and unable to stand the light of day. 



