220 OWLS. 



This " tiger among birds " is an inhabitant of heavily forested re- 

 gions, and is common therefore only in the wilder, less settled portions 

 of our country. It is the only one of our resident Owls which destroys 

 poultry and birds in any numbers, but, in spite of its frequent visits 

 to the farmyard. Dr. Fisher considers that in many localities it is a 

 " beneficial species " because of its great fondness for rabbits. 



Its usual call is a loud, deep-toned ivhoo, hoo-hoo-hoo, whodo, whbub. 

 The syllables are all on the same note, and bear some resemblance to 

 a bass-voiced dog barking in the distance. 



A much rarer call is a loud, piercing scream, one of the most blood- 

 curdling sounds I have ever heard in the woods. 



"Of 127 stomachs examined, 31 contained poultry or game birds; 

 8, other birds; 13, mice; G5, other mammals; 1, a scorpion; 1, fish ; 

 10, insects, and 17 were empty "' (Fisher). 



375a/. B. V. suba;rcticus [Hoi/]. Western Horned Owl. — Similar 

 to the preceding, but much lighter iu color, the ochraceous-buif markings 

 largely replaced by gray or white. 



Range. — Western United States, east casually to Wisconsin and Illinois. 



375c. B. V. saturatus Bidgw. Dusky Horned Owl. — Similar to 

 B. vlrgi)iiaiius., but much darker, the prevailing color fuscous or dusky. 



Range. — " From Labrador and Hudson Bay ; west through the interior to 

 Alaska, and south probably through all the higher regions of the Rocky 

 and Sierra Nevada Mountains; south to Arizona (San Francisco Mountain)" 

 (Bendirej. 



376. Nyctea nyctea {Linn.). Snowy Owl. Ad. 3. — Size large; 

 no ear-tufts ; white, more or less barred with dark grayish brown or fuscous ; 

 legs and feet heavily feathered ; eyes yellow. Ad. 9 . — Similar, but more 

 heavily barred. L., 25-00 ; W., 17-00 ; T., 9-50 ; B., 1-50. 



Range. — Breeds from Labrador northward and wanders southward in 

 winter regularly to the northern United States and occasionally to Texas. 



Washington, casual W. V. Sing Sing, A. V. Cambridge, rare and irregu- 

 lar W. V. 



Nest on the ground. Eggs., three to ten, 2-24 x 1-76. 



"The Snowy Owl is diurnal in its habits, but like most birds is 

 more active in search of prey during the early morning and again 

 toward dusk. Like many of the Hawks, it occupies a commanding 

 perch for hours, watching what is going on about it, occasionally 

 varying the monotony by dropping on a mouse or launching out over 

 the broad country, soon to return to its perch. During its southern 

 wanderings it is very partial to localities in the vicinity of water, 

 especially the barren sand wastes along the seashore or extensive 

 marshy fiats bordering the bays and rivers. . . . 



" The flight is firm, smooth, and noiseless, and may be long pro- 



