182 Birds of Nokth Carolina 



small bird, whkh at once notifies all the birds in the neighborhood, and soon we 

 may find titmice, ^^Tens, vireos, warblers, and jays gathered about it and displaying 

 groat excitement by their actions and cries. On such occasions, the Screech Owl 

 frcfiucntly sits for a time apparently unmoved, with head stretched upward and 

 feathers draw'ii tightly against its body, presenting on the whole a most unbird- 

 like appearance. It does not seem to see well in the daylight, and its flight is then 

 always uncertain, and merely to take it to a fresh place of refuge. 



Every one who learns "the noises of the night" knows its quavering, shivering 

 cry, which may be heard even in our most populous towns. This species nests in 

 hollow trees or stumps, often ajjpropriating the disused nest of the Flicker. The 

 eggs vary from three to five in number, and are deposited usuallj' in April. 



The food of the Screech Owl consists in part of rats and mice. It will, how- 

 ever, occasionally kill birils, even those larger than itself. 



As we have collected no specimens of this species in the lower coast counties, we have been 

 unable to determine the character of the bird.s tound there. They are, perhaps, Florida Screech 

 OwLs, Otus asio floridanus (Ilidgw.). 



Genus Bubo (Dumeril) 

 166. Bubo virginianus virginianus {dincL). Gkkat Houxed Owl. 



Dcxcrijition: Ads. — Size larpc: ear-tufts conspicuous, nearly two inclies in length; uppcrparts 

 mottled with varying shades of ochraceous-butT and black; facial disk ochraccous-bulT; car-tufts 

 black and ochraci'c)us-l)u(T; a white patch on the throat, rest of the underparts ochraceous-buff, 

 barred witli black; Icfjs and feet feathered; eyes yellow, o"' I-, 22.00; \V., 1.5.00; T., S..50; B., 

 l.tiO. (Chap., «m/.s- <)/ A'. A'. A.) 



Range (including subspecies). — Greater part of North and So\itli .Vnicrica. 



Range in Nurlk Carolina. — Whole State at all seasons. 



This, the largest and fiercest of our owls, is found in all ])arts of North Caro- 

 lina. Being of a wary nature, and capal)le of seeing well in tlic daytime, it is not 

 very often that it allows one tlie jirivilege of a near ai)proach. 



It seems a pity that so luuidsome a bird shotdd havi' such a tlinrouglily bad 

 reputation. It preys indiscriminately (tu many forms of wikl life. s\i(li as rabbits, 

 grouse, partridges, and even turkeys. Ciiickens roosting in trees at times fall vic- 

 tims to its rapacity, aiul it has been recorded that where food is ]ilentiful it often 

 eats only the heads of its victims. Scarcely any bird or animal of its own weight 

 is safe from this nocttu'iial woodland hunt(>r. Keen (jf .-^ight, jiowerful of bill and 

 talon, and with a wonderful courage, the (!reat Horned Owl noiselessly lumts the 

 open glades and woodland fastnesses as twilight drops over the land. Even the 

 beautiful but odorous sktmk is not safe from this owl's rai)acity. Dr. C. Hart 

 Merriam states: " I have known one to kill and decajiitate three turkeys and sev- 

 eral hens in a single night." Dr. P. R. Hoy (extract from quotation) in Fisher's 

 Hawk-'i and Owls of the United Stcitcs says: "The s])ecimen in the collection of 

 the Academy was known to carry off from one farm, in the space of a mouth, not 

 less than twenty-seven itidividuals of various kinds of poultry before it was shot." 



Sometimes a pigeon house will Ije selected and a heavy toll levied on the inmates 

 before the destroyer can be captured. Rabbits, iiowever, seem to l)e its favorite 

 food, and large numbers must be destroyed where these owls are plentiful. 



