92 BIRDS OF SOUTH DAKOTA 



to dispose of these is to keep a steel trap set on a small plat- 

 form erected at the top of a pole located near the poultry house. 

 It is evident that where these Owls become too numerous in a 

 neighborhood they must be classed as destructive. 



375a. WESTERN HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus pallescens.) 



This is a variety of the Great Horned Owl said to be 

 found in South Dakota. It is described as smaller and paler than 

 No. 375. One of the authors in examining many specimens from 

 over the State, has been unable to detect any form which was 

 more than a variation in plumage of the Great Horned Owl. 



375b. ARCTIC HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus subarcticus.) 



Another variety of the Great Horned Owl, very similar in 

 size but lighter in plumage, varying from gray to nearly white, 

 mixed with tawny and black. At a distance it resembles the 

 Snowy Owl but is easily distinguished by its long ear tufts. As 

 the name implies, its habitat is in the Arctic regions, where it 

 breeds. Only occasionally during the winter an individual strag- 

 gles as far south as our State. 



A specimen was taken by Mr. F. A. Patton, of Artesian, 

 in Sanborn County, in January, 1895. 



376. SNOWY OWL (Nyctea nyctea.) 



About the same size as the Great Horned Owl. It breeds 

 in the Arctic regions and migrates irregularly to South Dakota 

 during the winter. In plumage it varies from pure white to mixed 

 white and brownish black. A pure white specimen is rare, the 

 common markings being white barred with brownish black, the 

 female usually darker. They are without ear tufts and the feet 

 are almost completely feathered. Since their food consists 

 chiefly of mice and other small rodents, they are of great econ- 

 omic value to our agricultural interests. 



The Snowy Owl seems to be more abundant some winters 

 than others, and it is believed that an early winter with con- 

 tinuous cold is favorable to their southern migration. During 

 the severe winter of 1917-18 at least a dozen were taken in the 

 State, while during the mild winter of 1918-19 only a single 

 specimen was reported. Such a beautiful bird should never be 

 killed. 



