98 GREAT HORNED OWL— CAT OWL. 



but two or three is the average number observed in most of the 

 nests met with In Canada, and two the number of young hatched. 

 They are subspherical, colorless, and measure about 2'^ inches 

 in length by about 2 inches in breadth. Mr. Mcllwraith of Ham- 

 ilton informs me that the Great Horned Owl nests in the vicinity 

 of that cit)', and builds a large, coarse nest, composed mostly of 

 sticks, but warmly lined with wool and feathers. This nest is 

 usually placed in the hollow of a decaying tree where a limb has 

 been broken off; but sometimes in the crotch of a pine-tree where 

 a branch or branches join the main stem. The same gentleman 

 also informs me he has often seen the young of this species in a 

 half fledged condition in the hands of country lads, " from whom 

 they did not receive the very best treatment." The feathers at 

 this age are loose and downy, and the eyes are strangely con- 

 spicuous ; in fact they have no resemblance whatever to the parent 

 birds, but rather look like a shapeless bundle of greyish-brown 

 wool, into which have been stuck, as if for a joke, a great beak and 

 large pair of eyes. The parent birds are rather inattentive to 

 their young, and often leave them for long intervals to their own 

 devices ; and many a nest has been robbed with impunity on such 

 occasions by some little ragged urchin belonging to the nest-and- 

 egg-hunting fraternity of the country school. But woe be to that 

 same little urdiin if he miscalculates his opportunity, and is caught 

 in the act by the enraged female parent. It were better tor him — 

 well, had he remained at school and taken for his lesson the fierce 

 disposition of the Great Horned Owl when tampered with. 



The prey of this Owl consists of rats, sc^uirrels, mice, rabbits, 

 partridges, pigeons, poultry, and even birds of its own family, such 

 as the Long and Short-eared Owls. Indeed when hungry it will 

 pounce upon and devour, or attempt to devour, anything of a 

 moderate size in living shape. I have known one to destroy a 

 whole family of kittens, and even attack a large tom-cat ; in this 

 last, however, he met for once with his match, and parted with 

 some of his plumage. 



Mr. Mcllwraith states that on two occasions he has killed 

 individuals so thoroughly saturated with the stench ot the skunk 



