100 GREAT HORNED OWL— CAT OWL. 



his statement, that " this variety is better entitled to be regarded 

 as a distinct species than any other." 



Richardson's and Swainson's White Horned Owl, Bubo Arc- 

 ticus, was probably a very white example of this variety, if not a 

 form due to albinism. 



Variety — Bubo Virgbiianus Arctius, Cassin. 



Light-colored, frequently nearly white. General plumage, of a predominating pale yellowish 

 white, or cream color, of various shades from nearly pure white to nearly the color of the two 

 preceding varieties ; under parts generally lighter than the upper, and always throughout the 

 plumage marked and barred with brown, frequently pale and indistinct, but in the same general 

 manner as in Pacificus. Tarsi and toes generally very light, frequently nearly pure white ; size 

 generally about the same as that of variety Atlanticus, and the plumage with more or less of the 

 same reddish iulvous at the bases of the feathers ; feathers on the face pale white, or pale cream 

 color, or sometimes tinged with fulvous and cinereous. 



Average Dimensions — Female : 2 1 to 26 inches ; wing, 14}^ to 16 ; tail, 10 to 11 inches. 

 " " —Male: 18 to 21 " ; " 14 " 15; " 9 to 10 " 



