24 
NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 
GENUS BUBO. Cuvier. 
Head tufted. Aperture of the ears elliptical, and without an operculum. Bill short, broader 
than high. Facial disk complete. First quill short; the fourth longest. Tail moderate, 
rounded. Nocturnal. 
THE GREAT HORNED OWL 
Bubo virginianus. 
PLATE X. FIG. 22 (Female). 
(STATE COLLECTION.) 
Strix virginiana, Gmelin. 
Great Horned. Owl. Wils. Orn. Vol. 6 , p. 52, pi. 50, fig. 1. 
S. (Ulula) virginiana . Bonap. Ann. Lyc. N. York, Vol. 2, p. 37. 
Cheat Horned Owl. Audubon, folio, pi. 61; Ornith. Biog. Vol. 1, p. 313; Vol. 5, p. 393. Nuttall, Man, 
Omithol. Vol. 1, p. 124, figures. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 82. Aud. B. of A. 
Vol. 1, p. 143, pi. 39 (male and female). 
Bubo virginianus. Giraud, Birds of Long Island, p. 27. 
Characteristics. Very large. Mottled. Quills and tail-feathers banded with black. Tufts 
large. Facial disk with concentric circles. Length, two feet. 
Description. Bill stout, curved from the base ; its cutting margin sinuous. Facial disk 
not a regular circle. Tail slightly rounded, 3-4 inches longer than the tips of the folded 
wings. Tufts large, and of 10 - 12 feathers. 
Color. Above, a general mottled appearance, produced by the intermixture of grey, greyish 
white, rufous, brown and brownish black. Tufts reddish-brown on their interiors. Facial 
disk reddish, with an external circle, more or less complete, of blackish. Chin and breast 
white, with an obscure light or rufous collar encircling the neck. Dusky interrupted trans¬ 
verse bars on the breast and leg-feathers. 
Length, 20'0-25’0. Alar extent, 56‘0-60‘0. 
This is one of the largest of our Owls, and its aspect and dismal tones struck terror into 
the breasts of our early colonists. It is often called the Cat Owl, and builds in trees, laying 
3-4 white unspotted eggs. It preys on the larger birds, and upon dead fish cast upon the 
shore, and has a peculiar attachment to the inhabitants of the poultry yard. Found through¬ 
out the continent, and has been observed as far north as the 68th degree. Peculiar to 
America. 
