GREAT HORNED OWL. 2 6l 



This noted and formidable owl is found in almost every 

 quarter of the United States. His favourite residence, how- 



in labour. The flesh, bones, &c, boiled down to a jelly, are used to 

 cure spasms or rheumatism. Some of the fat, given to a child newly 

 born, averts misfortune from him for life." Independent of these, says 

 our correspondent, " there are innumerable superstitions regarding this 

 bird, and a native will always kill one when he has an opportunity. 



We must mention here a very beautiful species, which is certainly 

 first accurately described in the second volume of the "Northern 

 Zoology," though Wilson appears to have had some information regard- 

 ing a large white owl ; and Dr Richardson is of opinion that the Strix 

 iScandiaca of Linneeus, if not actually the species, at least resembles it. 

 It is characterised and figured by the northern travellers under the 

 name of Bubo Arctica, arctic or white-horned owl ; and we add the 

 greater part of their description. 



" This very beautiful owl appears to be rare, only one specimen 

 having been seen by the members of the expedition. It was observed 

 flying, at mid-day, in the immediate vicinity of Carlton House, and 

 was brought down with an arrow by an Indian boy. I obtained no 

 information respecting its habits. 



" The facial disk is very imperfect ; the ears, small, and without an 

 operculum, as in Strix Virginiana ; the ear-feathers, ample ; but the 

 disk even smaller than in the last-mentioned bird, and the tarsi some- 

 what longer. The toes are similarly connected. The tail is of mode- 

 rate length, and considerably rounded. The bill is strong, and rather 

 short. 



" Description. — Colour of the bill and claws, bluish black. Irides, 

 yellow. The face is white, bounded posteriorly by blackish brown, 

 succeeded by white, which two latter colours are continued in a mixed 

 band across the throat. Egrets, coloured at the base, like the adjoining 

 plumage ; the longer feathers tipped with blackish brown, their inner 

 webs, white, varied with wood brown. The whole dorsal aspect is 

 marked with undulated lines, or fine bars, of umber brown, alternating 

 with white ; the markings bearing some resemblance to those of the 

 Virginian owl, but being much more lively and handsome. On the 

 greater wing-coverts, on the inner half of the scapularies, and also 

 partially on the neck and lesser wing-coverts, the white is tinged or 

 replaced by pale wood brown. The primaries and secondaries are wood 

 brown, with a considerable portion of white along the margins of their 

 inner webs. They are crossed by from five to six distant umber brown 

 bars on both webs, the intervening spaces being finely speckled with 

 the same. Near the tips of the primaries, the fine sprinkling of the 

 dark colour nearly obscures the wood brown. On the tertiaries, the 



