NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



179 



375c. Dusky Horned Owl. Bubo virginianm saturatus. 



Range. Pacific coast from California to Alaska. 



This is the darkest of the Horned Owls, the extreme case being nearly black 

 on the back and very dark below. Nesting the same as the Great Horned Owl. 



375d. Pacific Horned Owl. Bubo virginianus pacificus. 



Range. California, southward and east to Arizona. 

 Smaller and darker than the eastern form but not as dark as the last, 

 the same as those of the others. 



Eggs 



375e. Dwarf Horned Owl. Bubo virginianus elachistus. 



Range. Lower California. 



This is a similar but darker form of the Horned Owl and is very much smaller 

 than virginianus. The nesting habits will be the same, but the eggs may aver- 

 age smaller. 



376. Snowy Owl. Nyctea nyctea. 



Range. Arctic regions, breeding within the Arctic Circle and wintering to the 

 northern border of the United States and casually farther. 



This very beautiful species varies in 

 plumage from pure white, unmarked, 

 to specimens heavily and broadly 

 barred with blackish brown. It is, next 

 to the Great Gray Owl, the largest 

 species found in America, being 2 feet 

 in length. Like the Great Horned 

 Owls, they are very strong, fearless, 

 and rapacious birds, feeding upon 

 hares, squirrels and smaller mammals, 

 as well as Grouse, Ptarmigan, etc. 

 They nest upon the ground, on banks 

 or mossy hummocks on the dry por- 

 tions of marshes, laying from two to 

 eight eggs, white in color and with a 



smoother shell than those of the Great 



[White.] Horned Owl. Size 2. 25 x 1.75. Data. 



Point Barrow, Alaska, June 16, 1898. 3 eggs laid in a hollow in the moss. Col- 

 lector, Dr. J. C. Call. 



[377.] Hawk Owl. Surnia ulula. 



Range. Northern portion of the Old World; accidental in Alaska. 

 Similar to the American species but lighter and more brownish. 



