BUBO VIRGINIANUS : GREAT HORNED OWL. 8/ 



Rev. J. H. Linsley at Stratford, Conn. (Am. Jour. Sci., 

 xliv, 1843, P- 253). According to Mr. Merriam, one was 

 found by Dr. Wm. O. Ayres at Hartford, Conn., about the 

 year 1841 ; and another was killed at Madison, Conn., 

 some years ago (B. Conn., 1877, p. 6y). The fourth 

 record for the State is given by Mr. J. A. Allen, who 

 states that Dr. William Wood has a specimen in his 

 cabinet shot at Sachem's Head, Conn., Oct. 28, 1865 

 (Am. Nat., iii, 1870, p. 570). There are two Massa- 

 chusetts records : the first, given by Dr. Coues on Mr. 

 Allen's authority, of a specimen killed near Springfield, 

 in May, 1868 (Pr. Essex Inst., v, 1868, p. 312) ; the other 

 of one shot in Lynn, about 1864, as given by Mr. Allen 

 (Am. Nat., iii, 1870, p. 646). The alleged Maine in- 

 stance (Brown, Bull. Nutt. Club), ii, 1877, p. 28) has 

 proven erroneous. See Brown, Bull. Nutt. Club, vii, 

 1882, p. 58. 



GREAT HORNED OWL. 



Bubo virginianus (Gm) Bp. 



Chars. Of great size, with conspicuous ear-tufts, and facial disc 

 complete ; feet entirely feathered. Length about 2 feet ; extent, 

 4 feet ; wing, 16.00 inches ; tail, 10.00. Plumage intimately 

 varied with blackish, whitish, light and dark brown, and tawny : 

 a white collar on the throat. The sexes are ahke, but the female 

 is larger than the male. 



This large and powerful Owl, yielding only to the 

 Great Gray Owl in size, and to none of its tribe in spirit 

 and vigor, is a resident bird throughout New England, 

 and one of the commonest of the nocturnal birds of 

 prey. It chiefly inhabits the forests, but not seldom is 



