136 
GREAT HORNED-OWL. 
also observed to be harsh and hideous, probably for this very 
purpose. 
The Great Horned-Owl is not migratory, but remains with 
us the whole year. During the day he slumbers in the thick 
evergreens of deep swamps, or seeks shelter in large hollow 
trees. He is very rarely seen abroad by day, and never but 
when disturbed. In the month of May they usually begin to 
build. The nest is generally placed in the fork of a tall tree, 
and is constructed of sticks, piled in considerable quantities, 
lined with dry leaves, and a few feathers. Sometimes they 
choose a hollow tree, and in that case carry in but few mate- 
rials. The female lays four eggs, nearly as large as those of a 
hen, almost globular, and of a pure white. In one of these 
nests, after the young had flown, were found the heads and 
bones of two chickens, the legs and head of the Golden-winged 
Woodpecker, and part of the wings and feathers of several 
other birds. It is generally conjectured that they hatch but 
once in the season. 
The length of the male of this species is twenty inches; the 
bill is large, black and strong, covered at the base with a cere; 
the eyes golden yellow; the horns are three inches in length, 
and very broad, consisting of twelve or fourteen feathers, their 
webs black, broadly edged with bright tawny; face rusty, 
bounded on each side by a band of black; space between the 
eyes and bill whitish ; whole lower parts elegantly marked with 
numerous transverse bars of dusky, on a bright tawny ground, 
thinly interspersed with white; vent pale yellow ochre, barred 
with narrow lines of brown; legs and feet large and covered 
with feathers, or hairy down, of a pale brown colour; claws 
very large, blue black; tail rounded, extending about an inch 
beyond the tips of the wings, crossed with six or seven narrow 
bars of brown, and variegated or marbled with brown and taw- 
ny; whole upper parts finely pencilled with dusky, on a tawny 
and whitish ground; chin pure white, under that a band of 
brown, succeeded by another narrow one of white; eyes very 
large. 
