52 



decided relation to the humidity of the atmosphere, and evidences this by the 

 preponderance of red Screech Owls in the Mississippi Valley, while east of the 

 Alleghenies the gray phase predominates (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mug., 1878, p. 108). In 

 an investigation made by Dr. F. W. Langdon of a collection of Screech Owls made 

 from southeast Indiana and southwest Ohio, he showed that of fifty-six specimens 

 examined thirty-two were red and twenty-four gray. While the proportion de- 

 termined by Mr. Eldgway does not hold here, the red phaee predominates (Jour. 

 Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist., April, 1882, pp. 52-53). It however seems probable that this 

 prevalence of the red phase, in some parts of our State at least, does not continue. 

 Prior to 1882 I can remember when in Franklin County a red Screech Owl was 

 rare; nearly all were gray. In the winter of 1886-87 red ones were abundant and 

 gray ones exceedingly rare. Throughout the northern part of the State it has 

 been usually understood that the gray form predominated, but some years the red 

 phase is much more common. Prof. Evermann says of Carroll County: "In 

 1877-79 we got a good many Screech Owls at Camden, perhaps twenty all told, and 

 I think there were only four or five red ones. Since 1885 I have seen four or five 

 at Burlington, all red. Since 1886, at Terre Haute, I have seen perhaps fifteen or 

 twenty, and only three or four of them were gray." 



GENUS BUBO CCVIER. 

 141. Bubo virginianus (Gmel.). GREAT HORNED O^L. 



Great Horned Owl. 



Common resident. Breed . The most common owl, excepting jthe Screech 

 Owl. Known as "Long-Eared Owl." 



