172 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



seldom venture from their burrow, but come out when the 

 sun has gone down, and gambol among the foliage. \Yhen 

 approached, they utter a hissing sound, which is exchanged 

 for a sharp click when confronting an unfamiliar object. 

 They assume also an erect attitude and often strike with 

 their claws. They also give expression to two other sounds, 

 one of which seems to indicate hunger or loneliness, and 

 the other, anger. When they have attained the age of live 

 or six weeks, they desert their parents, and shift for them- 

 selves. The peculiar hooting which is characteristic of the 

 adult birds, is not assumed until they are about three and a 

 half months old, just at the time they take on the character- 

 istic adult plumage. 



The eggs are somewhat sub-spherical, scarcely more 

 pointed at one extremity than the other, unless in exceptional 

 cases; of a bluish white color, and measure 1.67 inches in 

 length, and 1.37 in width. They vary, however, in size, in 

 different localities. Dr. Brewer describes a specimen from 

 Louisiana which measured 1.69 by 1.38 inches, and another 

 1.69 by 1.25 inches, from New Mexico. 



Bubo virginianus, 



The Great Horned Owl is distributed from the Atlantic 

 to the Pacific Ocean, and from Central America northward 

 so the shores of the Arctic Ocean ; in all of which country 

 it occurs in greater or less abundance, except where driven 

 away by the rapid spread of civilixed man. In different 

 parts, it is designated by various geographical appellations. 

 the propriety of which is very much questioned by Dr. 

 Coues. In the Arctic Regions, it was found to be quite 

 abundant by Richardson, as well as in all parts of Canada 

 and the United States. In the wooded-regions of Upper 

 California, it occurs in great numbers, according to Dr. 

 Gambel, and in the vicinity of Sacramento it was once very 

 plentiful, but since 1849. ^ nas n tably diminished in num- 

 bers. In Mexico, Indian Territory, and New Mexico, it 



