14 
TIIK COXDOR 
Vol. XIII 
For a nioinent we felt dubious as to the uest heiuR occupied. As we approached 
the tree, howe\’er, a (Ireat Honied Owl flew from one of the higher branches, 
arousetl either by the scpiirrel or, more likelxy by our own ajiiiroach. This was 
more favorable. We Rave the tree a few kicks, when the sitting' bird hopped up 
lightl\' to the rim of the ca\'ity, looked across the white landscaiie for se\'eral 
seconds, then sjiread her nearh' five feet of wings and flew silentl\' awa_\'. 
Our first mistake for lb()7 was in not looking into the nest on this first dav. 
Our reasons for not doing so were the belief that the set of eggs could hardh' be 
conpilete at this time and especialh' the fear that the egg or eggs could not stand 
ex]K)snre even for a short time on so cold a tlaw iM\' ]iresent belief is that this 
fear was unfounded. Just two da\'s later, on h'ebrnary 9, at about three o’clock in 
the afternoon, I \'isited the nest again and found the set of three eggs complete. 
I'iji'. in. ArKii. IS, inoj; .\T tup; b.ask of The om NK.sr trek; vouxg thirtv-shvex 
TO KORTV-OXK D.AV.S OEU 
'I'hese were l\ ing in a slight hollow as liefore, but as far liack in the cavity as 
])ossible. Fxcept for a small sixice about the eggs the house was filled, even to 
the door sill, with snow. It was a ihcture indeed, but one over which we did not 
ilare tarr\' in freezing weather. All the eggs were nest-stained and it did not look 
as if an\' one of them had been laid that daw However, this was uncertain and I 
had lost a iiossible opi)ortunit>' of learning just when the set became complete. 
This was regrettable, for no one seems to know the period of incubation of an egg 
of the (freat Horned Owl. The older ornithologists made their gue.ss at three 
weeks. Bendire later expresses his belief that this period is too short and that 
four weeks is probably nearer to the truth. I have not determined the ]ioint 
though my data still possesses some interest. Toward the end of the month I 
