38 

 Philadelphia the red phase of plumage is the most common, 

 while in Center County the gray phase predominates. Altho 

 breeding in every county of the state, it is much more com- 

 mon in the open farming country and the woodlot than in the 

 dense forests and second growth of the mountains. A favorite 

 haunt is an old apple orchard, or an open grove along a stp 

 stream, where they may he found thruout the year. 



375. Bubo virginianus virginianus (Gmel.). Great Horned Owl. 



In former years, .this was a common bird thruout 

 the wild and timbered portions of the state. Altho it still 

 breeds in practically every county, with the exception of 

 Philadelphia, it is now greatly reduced in numbers, and in 

 the southeastern counties especially, it is one of the 

 rarest of the breeders. In former years, it was compara- 

 tively common in Chester County, where Mr. Thos. H. Jackson 

 found a number of nests; about fifteen nests were found in 

 the vicinity of Kennett Square. In Upper Bucks County, it 

 still breeds, tho it now is a rare bird. In Center, Hund>- 

 ingdon, Pike, Monroe, Wayne, Adams, Franklin, and Clarion 

 Counties, I have found the Horned Owl as a resident where- 

 ever there are large patches of old, uncut timber. Mr. R.B. 

 Simpson writes me that in Warren it is a fairly common breed- 

 er, having fresh eggs about March 1. In southwestern Penn- 

 sylvania, Mr. S. S. Dickey still finds them breeding about 



