216 NOTES ON THE 
of the dark forest out of my sight. He looked to me vaster in 
all his proportions than all of my conceptions of Milton’s 
winged Apolyon, as he floated silently into the shadows of the 
night. 
These are the most numerous of the eleven or twelve species 
met with within our borders, and the largest of the assured 
permanent residents. They more commonly build their nests 
in the forks of the loftiest trees of the woodlands, far from 
habitations. It is constructed of sticks first, over which are 
laid twigs. These are sometimes massed in considerable quan- 
tities, and give the general dishing form to the structure. 
Whithin itis lined with leaves, moss, and grasses, with occa- 
sionally a few feathers from the owl’s own body; but these may 
be the mere accidental sheddings which have occurred while 
occupying the nest. The eggs are white with a tinge of yel- 
low, nearly spherical in form, and from three to four in number. 
The period in which they enter upon their nesting varies 
greatly with different pairs. I do not find much difference 
from one year to another so far as the average time in which 
they build is concerned, as they take no consideration of cold; 
but I find the first nests begun earlier than in any other locality 
in which 1 have ever observed them. My earliest personal 
record is February 7th, and the latest April 7th, which I do not 
think is as late as they sometimes build, judging from the young 
owls occasionally offered by country boys in the market for 
pets. Their value to the farmer isslowly gaining acknowledg- 
ment amongst farmers in all sections of our wheat growing 
commonwealth from their great destruction of field mice espec- 
ially. 
The habits of the Great Horned Owls of working dire de- 
struction amongst the domestic fowls that perch in exposed 
places, has produced a most unreasonable prejudice against 
the species by farmers, and hence he finds no mercy amongst 
them, but it exposes a very reprehensible practice of leaving 
their poultry to shift for themselves instead of providing 
secure quarters for them in a house devoted to their welfare. 
Even featherless bipeds have found that hens and chickens are 
good eating, and it is not strange if the facilities of this species 
for seizing and bearing them away so safely and securely 
should have suggested the trial for themselves, and succeeding 
so admirably, had perpetuated the practice. But the debit 
column against this bird should not stand alone, for there is 
another of credit, embracing rabbits, so destructive to young 
