Harris Birds of the Kansas City Region. 269 



able cavities are to be found. A pair nested for fifteen years 

 at Armour Boulevard and Campbell, another at Valentine Road 

 and Broadway, and others have been regularly seen or heard 

 in many other neighborhoods. 



They have been observed lurking about street lights in search 

 of large insects or possibly toads. They are known to prey on 

 mice and English Sparrows and should be carefully protected. 



It is doubtful if this owl is as common about the city as for- 

 merly, since it is frequently killed or driven away under the im- 

 pression that it is a destroyer of song birds. One instance is 

 known of six (two adults and four grown young) being killed 

 in one evening. 



An examination of dozens of specimens taken in this vicinity 

 leads to the belief that the gray color phase predominates here. 



BUBO VIRGINIANUS viRGiNiANUS (Gmelin). Great Horned Owl. 

 Fairly common resident. 



The eight or ten specimens of this big owl in the Swope Park 

 Zoo are said to have been captured within the boundaries of 

 the park. 



Great Horned Owls have been found nesting several times 

 in the timber along the Blue and in the Missouri bottoms. Old 

 hawk's nests are sometimes refitted and used, but more often 

 the eggs are laid in natural cavities in trees. The birds begin 

 laying late in January or early in February. 



[BUBO VIRGINIANUS PALLESCENS Stone. Western Horned Owl.] 

 Probably a casual resident. 



The presence of this subspecies will no doubt in time be es- 

 tablished here as it is known to range much further east. No 

 specimen has yet been taken in this vicinity. 



NYCTEA NYCTEA (Linn.). Snowy Owl. 

 Very rare winter visitant. 



This far northern species has been seen here but three times. 

 It ranges thus far south only during the coldest winters. A 

 specimen taken by Jno. Bryant many years ago has been de- 

 stroyed. There are three specimens in the Bankers collection. 



SPEOTYTO CUNICULARIA HYPOGAEA (Bonaparte). Burrowing Owl. 

 Accidental visitant. 



The only specimen of this plains bird known to have been 



