BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 47 



GENUS BUBO. 



(375) Great Horned Owl. 



(Bubo virginianus.) 



A common resident, breeding- throughout its range. The strongest 

 and most courageous of our birds of prey. Commonly considered to be 

 injurious to the farmer, because it occasionally kills poultry. No doubt 

 it will do this in winter, when its natural food is difficult to get ; but the 

 farmer who leaves his fowls to roost out and unprotected on cold nights 

 cannot find them very profitable and certainly deserves to lose them. As 

 against this, should be set off the value of the bird's services in keeping 

 in check the rats, mice, crows and other injurious creatures; even skunks 

 often fall victims to the Horned Owl's strength and rapacity. 



GENUS NYCTEA. 



(376) Snowy Owl. 



(Nyctea nyctea.) 



A winter visitor, occurring in varying numbers almost every season. 

 This is a diurnal species, hunting its prey much after the fashion of 

 the falcons. 



Breeds in the Arctic regions. 



GENUS SURNIA. 



(377) Hawk Owl. (American Hawk Owl.) 



(Surnia ulula caparoch.) 



A regular winter visitor in northern Ontario, not often seen in the 

 southern portions of the Province. 



It is diurnal, and when hunting a.dopts much the same methods as 

 our Sparrow Hawk. In northern Manitoba, where it is rather common 

 in winter, I frequently saw it hovering over the snow-covered plains just 

 as our little Hawk does over the fields in summer. 



Breeds in the far north. 



Order COCCYGES. (Cuckoos and Kingfishers.) 



This order is not very largely represented in Canada. The families 

 comprised in it have but little in common so far as outward appearance 

 is concerned, but the characteristics of each are well marked. 



SUBORDER CUCULI. (CUCKOOS.) 

 FAMILY CUCULID/E. (CUCKOOS.) 



Bill gently curved, lengthened, without rectal bristles or nasal tufts. 

 Tongue not extensible. Tarsus long, nearly naked. Toes not webbed, 

 cleft to base ; two in front, two behind. Tail long in our species. 



Arboreal birds of great economic value, feeding almost entirely on 

 insects. They devour great numbers of tent caterpillars and the various 

 hairy larvae, which are rejected by most birds. 



