304 GEOLOGICAI. SURVEY OF CANADA. 
getting grass to build with. One night two winters ago one came 
into a barn-yard and killed two geese. The farmer caught it in a 
trap a few nights after. These owls are usually found along the 
rivers and streams in thick woods. The western form in Manitoba 
and the northwest is usually found in willow thickets along the 
banks of streams and the edges of sloughs. I have seen them time 
and again fly from a log or a stone, up the bank of a stream at my 
approach, which leads me to think that they are very fond of bathing 
and washing themselves, although I never saw one in the act. They 
feed chiefly upon the hares that live in the thickets. (Spread- 
borough.) This species builds in holes in trees when such can be 
found, it also builds in hemlock, beech or other large trees in the 
vicinity of Ottawa. The nest is placed near the trunk of the tree 
and is composed of dry sticks, probably lined with leaves and feathers 
the eggs are two or three in number. (G. R. White.) A fairly 
common species along the St. Lawrence, but rapidly becoming 
rarer. I have seen the nest several times; one near Perth, Ont., 
in a tamarack tree not more than twelve feet from the ground, which 
on May 30th, 1886, contained two young ones just able to fly. It is 
a very early breeder; on the 11th April, 1895, I found a nest with 
two much incubated eggs. The nest occupied was in a yellow 
birch, and the previous year had been tenanted by a pair of red- 
shouldered hawks. This nest was again occupied by the owls 
three years later. Again in 1899 I found the nest in a hemlock 
about sixty feet from the ground on March 28th, when the weather 
was very cold and snow covered the ground. This nest contained 
two eggs, incubation far advanced. This owl is easily kept in con- 
finement and does not appear to suffer from changes of weather. 
I have had one for fifteen years. (Rev. C. J. Young.) A nest of 
this species found in May, 1900, containing two large young, had 
beneath it numerous fragments of birds and mammals, among the 
former avere remains of a broad-winged hawk, two red-shouldered 
hawks and one red-tailed hawk. This is our earliest resident breeder; 
full sets have been taken as early as February 24th near London, 
and all the eggs are generally laid by March roth. (W.E. Saunders.) 
375a. Western Horned Owl 
Bubo virginianus subarcticus (HoG.) 1852. 
Of recent record at Toronto, Ont.; there are none in old collections. 
I have examined four well marked birds since 1893; of these two 
