NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 95 



from a hollow tree. One of the old birds was gray, the other red, and 

 sonie of the young were of the red, and some of the gray type of colora- 

 tion, this being a common occurrence. The Mottled Owl is resident 

 throughout Eastern United States and Canada; west to the Rocky Moun- 

 tains; on the limits of its range shades into several varieties. The 

 eggs of the different varieties of Scops are not distinguishable. The 

 nest of the Little Horned or Red Owl, as it is often called, is made 

 in a hollow tree or stump, sometimes in the topmost corner inside of an 

 old barn or shed. I have found several nests between the broken siding 

 of ice-houses along streams. The materials used are a few sticks, leaves, 

 feathers, etc., on which the eggs are laid. 



402/;. Texan Screech Owl — scops asio maccalli. Eggs and nesting 



habits are the same as those of 5. aSW. Hab. Texas and south to Guatemala. 



405. Great Horned Owl — bubo virginianus. Pure white, nearly 

 spherical; size about 2.25 by 1.90. There is a diversity of opinion 

 as to the number of eggs laid by this bird. The number, how- 

 ever, varies from two to five, and this depends upon circumstances. I have 

 frequently had sets of four eggs which were taken in Ohio. A family of 

 four young birds in their light cinnamon brown dress was brought to me in 

 the Spring of 1884. These were taken from one nest in a hollow tree. I 

 have also a set of four eggs of the Dusky Horned Owl, B. v. saturahis, col- 

 lected near Riversid.e, California. The Hoot or Cat Owl is the largest ot 

 all the owls with ear-tufts, and is a common bird throughout North America 

 at large, and has several geographical varieties. The damage done by his 

 depredations upon hen-roosts is well known. With all the wisdom accred- 

 ited to him, he does not seem to be wise enough to keep away from the 

 steel traps that are set on tall poles in farm-yards, and which so often are 

 the cause of his death or the loss of toes. The nest is placed in the fork 

 of a high tree or in a cavity; sometimes no material is used when in the 

 latter place. Quite frequently they occupy the deserted nests of hawks, 

 which they patch up to suit. 



405/7. Western Horned Owl — bubo virginianus arcticus. Eggs and 

 nesting habits same as those of B. virginianus. 



Hab. Boreal and Alpine North America. 



405f. Dusky Horned Owl — bubo virginianus saturatus. Eggs and 

 nesting habits same as B. vii-giniamis. Four eggs from California measure 



2. 16 by 1.78, 2.20 by 1.74, 2.25 by 1.76, 2. 16 by 1.78. Hab. Pacific Coast. 



406. Snowy Owl — nyctea scandiaca. White, oval-oblong, with very 

 smooth surface; five to ten in number; size 2.50 by 1.90. The eggs are 



