136 GREAT HORNED-OWL- 



also observed to be harsh and hideous, probably for this very 

 purpose. 



The Great Horned-Owl is not migratory, but remains with 

 us the whole year. During the day he slumbers in the thick 

 evergreens of deep swamps, or seeks shelter in large hollow 

 trees. He is very rarely seen abroad by day, and never but 

 when disturbed. In the month of May they usually begin to 

 build. The nest is generally placed in the fork of a tall tree, 

 and is constructed of sticks, piled in considerable quantities, 

 lined with dry leaves, and a few feathers. Sometimes they 

 choose a hollow tree, and in that case carry in but few mate- 

 rials. The female lays four eggs, nearly as large as those of a 

 hen, almost globular, and of a pure white. In one of these 

 nests, after the young had flown, were found the heads and 

 bones of two chickens, the legs and head of the Golden-winged 

 Woodpecker, and part of the wings and feathers of several 

 other birds. It is generally conjectured that they hatch but 

 once in the season. 



The length of the male of this species is twenty inches; the 

 bill is large, black and strong, covered at the base with a cere ; 

 the eyes golden yellow; the horns are three inches in length, 

 and very broad, consisting of twelve or fourteen feathers, their 

 webs black, broadly edged with bright tawny; face rusty, 

 bounded on each side by a band of black; space between the 

 eyes and bill whitish ; whole lower parts elegantly marked with 

 numerous transverse bars of dusky, on a bright tawny ground, 

 thinly interspersed with white; vent pale yellow ochre, barred 

 with narrow lines of brown; legs and feet large and covered 

 with feathers, or hairy down, of a pale brown colour; claws 

 very large, blue black; tail rounded, extending about an inch 

 beyond the tips of the wings, crossed with six or seven narrow 

 bars of brown, and variegated or marbled with brown and taw- 

 ny; whole upper parts finely pencilled with dusky, on a tawny 

 and whitish ground; chin pure white, under that a band of 

 brown, succeeded by another narrow one of white; eyes very 

 large. 



