Birds of Prey 



373 



more useful birds than jays ; 

 of 255 stomachs examined, 

 only one contained poultry. 

 Three fourths of their food 

 consists of injurious mam- 

 mals, such as mice, and of 

 injurious insects. The birds 

 they catch are mainly English 

 sparrows. For this reason, if 

 for no other, this owl should 

 be welcome to a home in any 

 town or on any farm where 

 English sparrows are a 

 nuisance. 



These little owls do not 

 screech, but utter a quaver- 

 ing whistle. In the South 

 people call them " shivering 

 owls." 



The great horned owl. The great horned owl is 

 nearly 2 feet long and gets its name from its large size 

 and the tufts of feathers over its eyes. Formerly it 

 was common in dense woods throughout North America. 

 Now stuffed specimens are more likely to be seen than 

 living ones, unless one visits zoological gardens or city 

 parks where collections of birds are kept. 



The nesting season of the great horned owl is very 

 early in February or March. The nest is made in 

 the hollow of a tree or on the top of a stump, or a bulky 

 nest of sticks is built on the branches of a tall tree in 

 the deep forest. The eggs are white, two to four 



Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 

 FIG. 229. Great horned owl. 



