208 BIRDS 



bones of our most valuable wild birds, such as the bob-white 

 and ruffed grouse. In other instances I have known horned 

 owls to live in some hollow tree overlooking a corn crib or 

 granary, where they subsist on rats. 



The notes of the horned owl are a deep and loud " hoot," 

 uttered particularly during inclement weather or before a 

 storm, for in districts inhabited by these owls one seldom 

 fails to hear the weird hootings when the barometer indi- 

 cates a change of weather. It seems hard to imagine one 

 of these solemn-looking birds, that stand so erect, sitting 

 horizontally on her nest. However, they assume this posi- 

 tion with ease, and the naturalist venturing forth into the 

 snowbound wood in February, uses his field glasses to detect 

 the two tufts of feathers, the only telltale signs that some 

 old hawk's nest is occupied by this big bird. 



The household duties of these hardy birds are com- 

 menced during the coldest days of February. Frequently 

 an old nest of the great blue heron, red-tailed or red- 

 shouldered hawk is used. Two to four pure white eggs are 

 laid. Often the eggs are deposited in a hollow tree, where 

 only a few feathers separate them from an ice foundation 

 at the bottom of the cavity. 



THE WESTERN HORNED OWL* 



The Western Horned Owl is a variety of the great horned 

 owl of eastern North America. It has a wide and extensive 

 range, reaching from Manitoba on the north into the table- 

 lands of Mexico on the south, and eastward from the Pacific 

 Coast across the Great Plains. Occasionally specimens are 



