8 
USEFUL BIRDS 
ever, show that this bird was met with occasionally in Otter Tail 
County in October and November, some years ago. It is, hoAvever, 
distinctly a boreal bird, pushing its migrations southerly only in 
in its search for food. 
The Great Horned Owl, however, arriving here sometimes as 
early as February, is a common bird within our state borders. 
Rabbits, gophers, muskrats, field mice, and other night-prowling 
Great-horned Owl. After Fuertes. 
animals represent a large share of the diet of this owl ; poultry, 
too, if farmers allow their turkeys and chickens to roost in tops 
of trees, on sheds, or on exposed farm wagons. Even skunks (note 
the illustration) are highly prized by them for food ; in fact, when 
captured, they are frequently strongly scented Avith skunk odor. 
With the exception of the skunk, Avhich is ordinarily a useful citizen, 
the other mammals mentioned must be regarded as injurious — 
most of them decidedly so ; hence this oavI is, to a large degree, a 
benefactor. 
