810 KEPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



was in a sycamore stub near a farmer's barn (Journ. Cin. Soc. N. H., 

 April, 1885, p. 66). 



Rabbits are the principal mammals eaten, though they are great 

 destroyers of mice. They also eat muskrats, opossums and skunks. 



The summary of 127 stomachs examined shows that 31 contained 

 poultry or game birds; 8, other birds; 13, mice; 65, other mammals; 

 1, a scorpion; 1, fish; 10, insects; and 17 were empty. (Fisher, Bull. 

 No. 3, Div. 0. & M., IT. S. Dept. Agr.) Undoubtedly almost all the 

 poultry eaten by the Great Horned Owl is taken from fences, trees 

 and other exposed perches, where many fanners permit their fowls 

 to roost. If they will take care to have them properly housed, the 

 Owls will seldom bother them. The farmer who takes proper care 

 of his poultry has no charge to make against this Owl. To all such it 

 is a beneficial bird. To the fruit growers, by reason of its destruction 

 of rabbits and mice, it is a true friend. Let it be protected accord- 

 ingly. 



87. GBNUS NYCTEA STEPHENS. 



153. (376). Nyctea nyctea (LINN.). 



Snowy Owl. 



"Ear tufts, rudimentary; plumage, pure white, sometimes almost 

 unspotted, but usually marked more or less with transverse spots or 

 bars of slaty-brown. 



"Length, 20.00-27.00; wing, 15.50-18.75; tail, 9.00-10.30." (Fisher). 



RANGE. Northern part of Northern Hemisphere. In North 

 America breeding from Labrador, Hudson Bay and north Alaska, 

 northward. South, in winter, to Ohio Valley; casually to South Caro- 

 lina, Texas, California and Bermudas. 



Nest, a few feathers, or bits of moss, in a depression on a knoll. 

 Eggs, 3-10; white; 2.24 by 1.76. 



Winter visitor, of irregular occurrence. Most every winter it is seen. 

 Usually it is rare, but occasionally it appears in some numbers. In 

 the northern part of the State it is seen more often than elsewhere. 

 There are but few records from the "Whitewater Valley. A specimen 

 taken in Franklin County, in December, 1879, is in the collection of 

 Mr. E. E. Quick, of Brookville. The winter of 1886-7 one was seen north 

 of Brookville, and one was taken at Cedar Grove, December, 1893. 

 In Fayette County one was taken, February 18, 1887 (Rehme), and in 

 Wayne County one was reported during the holidays, 1887 (F. M. 

 Smith). The winter of 1885-6 several were reported from different 

 parts of the State, and in the winter of 1886-7 they were still more nu- 



