146 THE BIRDS 
the birds and mammals devoured. The eggs number from 
four to six, dull white, unmarked. Size, 1.35x1.20. 
Fresh eggs April 9th to 20th. But a single brood is raised 
each season. 
GENUS BUBOoO. 
[375]. Bubo virginianus virginianus (Gmelin). Great 
Horned Owl. 
[ Hoot Owl]. 
Rance.—Eastern North America from Ontario, 
Quebec, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland south to the 
Gulf Coast and Florida, west to Wisconsin, eastern Minne- 
sota, Iowa and eastern Texas. 
The local residents make no distinction between this 
species and the Barred Owl, calling both by the name of 
“Hoot Owl.” This owl, and the little Screech Owl, are 
probably better known to the public in general than any 
of the others. He is not an abundant species with us, 
though occasionally heard during the early part of the 
night. They remain throughout the winter with us, feed- 
ing upon rabbits, muskrats, opossums and small mammals, 
such as rats and mice, sometimes a large amount of 
poultry, pigeons and insects. In some sections they do 
more harm than good, and vice versa, so until some one 
in this section actually shows by examination of stomachs 
that they do more harm than good, I must urge they be 
protected. They nest in hollow trees or a deserted crow’s 
or hawk’s nest. Fresh eggs the last week in January till 
the middle of February, pure white. Size, 2.25x1.85. 
From two to three eggs are generally laid. As the large 
