C. II. Merriam Birds of Connecticut. 67 



specimen in his cabinet that was shot ' at Sachem's Head, Connecticut, 

 Oct. 28th, 1868.' "* Massachusetts also lays claim to two specimens : 

 the first " was killed near Springfield, Mass., about the last of May," 

 1868,f and the other " was shot near Lynn, in the same State, in 

 1863."^ 



Since writing the above I have seen, in the cabinet of Capt. O. N. 

 Brooks, at Faulkner's Island, Conn., a mounted specimen of this 

 species which was killed at Madison, Conn., some years ago ; and 

 Dr. Wm. O. Ayres, now of Easthampton, Long Island, writes me 

 that he found one at Hartford, Conn., about the year 1841. Hence 

 at least four have been killed in this State. 



145. Bubo VirginianuS (Gmelin) Bonaparte. Great Horned Owl. 



Resident ; not rare. Breeds in suitable localities throughout the 

 State. It feeds on the larger game (hares, grouse, and the like), not 

 forgetting the poultry yard, and seems particularly fond of turkeys, 

 of which it seldom touches more than the head, if there are a plenty 

 about. Indeed I have known one to kill and decapitate three turkeys 

 and several hens in a single night, leaving the bodies uninjured and 

 fit for the table. Hence, if not so prone to select valuable fowls the 

 loss would not be great. Their tenacity to life is something remark- 

 able. A number of years ago I kept one in confinement for six or 

 eight months, during which time I was twice attacked by him and 

 bear the marks of his talons to this day. On both of these occasions 

 I kicked and pounded him with sticks till he was, as I supposed, 

 dead, but always on returning to skin the bird I found him sitting up 

 on his perch, blinking, snapping his bill, and making faces at me as 

 usual. Dr. Wood writes that a gentleman, while viewing one of 

 this species in his collection, said : " I suppose that is the kind of bird 

 that once scared me almost to death. While riding on horseback 

 through a tract of large woods in New York State, one night, with a 

 white beaver on my head, something, without the least noise or 

 warning, struck my head with such force that it took my hat, and I 

 supposed for a time the top of my head off. I thought the devil was 

 after me, and the way that old horse went for the next three miles 

 would have astonished John Gilpin. It seemed to me my heart beat 



* Notes on some of the Rarer Birds of Massachusetts, p. 17. 1869. I have lately 

 seen this specimen. 



f Proceed. Essex Institute, vol. v, p. 312. 



\ Coues' Birds of the Northwest, p. 300. 1874. 



