BIRDS OF KANSAS 115 



before attempting to eat it. In daytime it seldom came at 

 call, but would always answer with a low, guttural, rattling 

 note. Boy-like, it was one of my chief delights at eve to 

 drop a mouse from a trap into a box. At sight of the mouse 

 it would raise its feathers, quiver with excitement and 

 eagerly pounce upon it, bite it through the back until 

 limp or dead, then, with a chuckling note of satisfaction, 

 carry it to its perch. The birds make quite a variety of 

 low sounds, but the only one heard at a distance is its 

 screeching, tremulous, wailing call note or song, so often 

 lieard at eve and during the night, especially when the 

 moon is shining. 



Their nests are placed in holes in trees, occasionally in 

 n(>oks in buildings. They are sparingly lined with grasses, 

 leaves and feathers. Eggs four to six, 1.40x1.22; pure 

 wliite; in form, subspherical. 



XXXVII.— GREAT HORTsTED OWL. 



Buho virginianus (Gmel.). 



Resident; common. Begin laying the last of Eebruary. 



Habitat. Eastern E'orth America ; west to the edge of 

 the Great Plains ; soutli through eastern Mexico, to Costa 

 Rica. 



Iris yellow; bill, cere and claws black. 



This bird inhabits not only the wooded lands, but our 

 broad prairies, resting during the day in thickets, hollow 

 trees, clefts in rocks, or most any secluded spot. I have 

 occasionally started them from a hummock, in a rank 

 growth of tall grass. They are not strictly a night bird, 

 as I have often seen them during the day, while rearing 

 their young, in search of food ; but, unless pressed by 



