174 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



From the little that is known of its habits it is presumed that they 

 do not differ in any marked degree from those of the Common Screech 

 Owl. Its food also is probably the same, although the only data we 

 have on this subject is the result of examinations made by Dr. 0. Hart 

 Merriam, of the stomach contents of two specimens killed by him in 

 the Grand Canon of the Colorado September 13, 1889, and at Ketchum, 

 Idaho, September 22, 1890. The stomach of the former contained one 

 scorpion, some beetles, and a few other insects, and that of the latter, 

 grasshoppers, ants, and other insects. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Toes entirely na ted to extreme base. Ear tufts sinall; above, finely 

 mottled grayish, with small, irregular black stripes, and blotches of 

 orange rufous ; below, whitish, with streaks and transverse bars of 

 blackish. Wings, 5.10 to 5.60 inches (130 to 142 mm ); tail, 2.60 to 3 

 inches (65 to 75 mm ). 



GREAT HORNED OWL. 



Bubo virginianus. 



[Plate 24— Adult.] 



The Great Horned Owl is found in suitable localities throughout the 

 greater part of North America, Costa Eica, so far as known^ being the 

 southern limit of its range. Like other birds and mammals which 

 have a wide and diversified range, this species is modified by climate 

 and other local influences so that it is separable into several well- 

 marked geographical races. The typical form (Bubo virginianus) ranges 

 from Labrador and the eastern United States south through eastern 

 Mexico to Costa Eica. 



The Dusky Horned Owl (Bubo v. saturatus) inhabits the northwest 

 coast region from Oregon to Alaska, and also Labrador ; recently it has 

 been found to extend south through the Eocky Mountains to Colorado 

 and Arizona (N. A. Fauna, No. 3, 1890, p. 91). 



The Western Horned Owl (Bubo v. subarcticus) inhabits the western 

 United States (except the northwest coast), ranging eastward across the 

 Great Plains (straggling to northern Illinois, Wisconsin, and western 

 Ontario), northward to Manitoba, and southward over the table-lands 

 of Mexico. 



The Arctic Horned Owl (Bubo v. arcticus) inhabits Arctic America, 

 chiefly in the interior, ranging south in winter to Manitoba and the 

 mountains of Dakota and Montana. 



In studying this Owl in relation to its food habits it will be perceived 

 at a glance that a bird so powerful and voracious may at times be a 

 source of great benefit, while at other times it may be the cause of great 

 damage. Now, the serious inroads it makes on the tenants of the poul- 



