234 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



GENUS BUBO CUVIER, 

 BUBO VIRGINIANUS (GMEL.). 



165. Great Horned Owl. (375) 



Distinguished by its large size, in connection with the conspicuous ear-tufts ; 

 the other species of similar dimensions are tuftless. The plumage varies 

 interminably, and no concise description will meet all its phases ; it is a 

 variegation of blackish, with dark and light brown, and fulvous. A white 

 collar is the most constant color mark. Length, about 2 feet ; wing, 14-16 

 inches ; tail, 9-10. 



HAB. Eastern North America, west to the Mississippi Valley, and from 

 Labrador south to Costa Rica. 



Nest, sometimes in a hollow tree, or cleft of a rock, or among the branches 

 of a high tree in the thickest part of the woods, .very often the nest of the 

 Red-tailed Hawk is appropriated, or that of other species where available. 



Eggs, two or three, round, white. 



The Great Horned Owl is well known in Ontario, being generally 

 distributed throughout the Province. During the day it hides away 

 in the deep impenetrable parts of the woods, but at night sallies forth 

 in quest of prey, and does not hesitate to rob the hen roost, return- 

 ing for that purpose night after night, unless stopped by a snap shot 

 in the dark, or caught in a trap baited for the purpose. Individuals 

 vary greatly in plumage, so much so that they have been described as 

 distinct species. Near Hamilton I have found them varying from 

 light silvery-gray to deep fulvous brown. I once obtained a very 

 handsome specimen in the latter dress which I was unable to utilize 

 from its having been recently in contact with a skunk. It is strictly 

 nocturnal in its habits, but when obliged by the attention of crows, 

 or other disturbing causes, to move during the day, it makes good use 

 of its eyes, and gets quickly away to the nearest thicket for shelter. 



This is not the most numerous of the owls which occur with us, 

 but no other member of the family receives so much attention. This 

 is owing to its large size, its loud call, which is heard at a great 

 distance on still evenings in the fall, but chiefly to the raids it makes 

 oil the hen roosts. In older countries, where, by many of the 

 inhabitants, all the owls at-e supposed to be to some extent in com- 

 munication with the supernatural agents of evil, this would be 

 regarded as a most " unlucky " visitor ; but in this new land we have 

 no birds of evil omen, and the owl receives his proper place in science 

 and in literature. Longfellow speaks of him as "a grave bird, a monk 

 who chants midnight mass in the great temple of nature." 



