248 



sistaiice; at another time, wheu uol niori' than liftv 

 yards distant, it utters its more usual hoo, hoo, hooc. 

 iu so peculiar an undertone that a person unacquainted 

 with the notes of this species might easily conceive 

 them to be prouced by an owl more thau a mile distant. 

 During the utterance of all these unmusical cries it 

 moves its body, and more particularly its head, iu 

 various ways, putting them into positions, all of which 

 appear to please it much, however grotesoue thev may 

 seem to the eye of man. In the interval following 

 each cry it snaps its bill." — Audubon. 



These owls, like the preceding species, are not migra- 

 tory and when not eugagi'd in breeding lead a solitary 

 existence. Although chiefly nocturnal in habits, Great 

 Horned Owls are often seen in cloudy weather and in 

 the early twilight searching for food. On one occ.i- 

 sion, when the suu was shining brightly (about 10 A. 

 M.), I saw one of these owls make two attempts to 

 catch a hen and her young chicks. 



WHAT THEY LIVE UPON'. 



Audubon says: "Its food consists cliiefly of the larger 

 species of gallinaceous birds, half-grown wild turkeys, 

 pheasants and domestic poultry of all kinds, together 

 with several species of ducks. Hares, young opossums 

 and squirrels are eciually agreeable to it. and whenever 

 chance throws a dead fish on the shore the Great 

 Horned Owl feeds with peculiar avidity on it" 



Nuttall tells us they usually prey on young rabbits, 

 squirrels, rats, mice, quails and small birds of various 

 kinds: and when these resources fail or diminish, they 

 occasionally jirowl pretty boldly around the farm-yard 

 in quest of chickens, which they seize on the roost. 



My own records of sixteen examinations of the 

 (ii'eat Honied Owl. wliicli. with one fxc-i.tioii. wcie all 



