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acterized by much light ochre underplumage. It is to be expected in the southern parts 
of the Prairie Provinces. Throughout the mountains in British Columbia we have a 
dark form, the Pacific Horned Owl Bubo irirginianus saturatus. This is more like the 
Eastern Homed Owl, but is much blacker. It occupies southern British Columbia. In 
Northern British Columbia and adjoining parts of the Yukon is a similar black form, 
the Northwestern Homed Owl Bubo virginianus lagoponus. It is interesting to note 
that these dark western forms are almost identical in coloration with the Labrador Horned 
Owl, although separated from it by thousands of miles, and with an almost white race 
between. This may be regarded as a case of parallel development; similarity of conditions 
producing similar coloration. The foregoing is a generalized description and distribution 
of the west Canadian subspecies of Horned Owls; the birds themselves do not quite adhere 
to either perfectly, and many confusing problems occur. During migration several forms 
may be found together in winter. The resident Owls in the southern parts of the provinces 
nest before some of the far northern breeders leave for their summer stations, and dates 
are, therefore, not reliable as evidence for the separation of resident from migrant birds. 
The birds nesting do not always show the expected racial characters and typical subarcticus 
with young may be taken near our southern borders and well marked ocddentalis in the 
far north. 
The species is suspected of being dimorphic to some extent, and the blacker coloured 
birds are supposed to occur in all races. There is, of course, the usual amount of inter- 
gradation between the races, that marks them as subspecies instead of full species, and 
altogether the problem of properly classifying the Great Horned Owls is a difficult one, 
and not to be successfully or satisfactorily undertaken until a far larger series of specimens 
is available for comparison. 
The Great Horned Owl is the evil genius of the woods. Winding 
silently through the shadowy foliage, along the steep mountain or coulee 
sides, it is monarch of all it surveys, except the larger animals. In a natural 
state it fears no enemies save man, and all the lesser animals and birds 
cower at its soft, hushed flight. In minor affairs, however, it has not 
things always its own way. Often one will hear a great protracted outcry 
from the Crows, and the black clans will be seen gathering to a common 
point where great excitement prevails. As likely as not, a Great Horned 
Owl will be found the centre of attraction. Some sharp-eyed Crow has 
seen the sleepy bird hugged close against a tree trunk, awaiting the coming 
of the night. The alarm once given it is taken up by throat after throat, 
and soon all the corvine neighbourhood joins the mobbing. They surround 
him, screaming in his face and making dashing feints, at which he braces 
himself, and snaps a hollow sounding bill, but rarely has a chance of using 
his terrible talons against his agile and discreet tormentors. The Owl 
cannot throw them off ; it retreats from tree to tree, but, at the first move- 
ment, the black mob renews its screams, trails away after, and never loses 
sight of its quarry until the falling shades send all Crows off to roost. Then 
the tables may be turned, and the occasional piles of glossy black feathers 
scattered about the ground show that revenge is especially sweet when it 
also furnishes a meal. It is difficult to say which, Crow or Owl, has the 
observer’s sympathy, but perhaps the thought suggested is that “When 
knaves fall out, honest men prosper.” Like other Owls, the Great Horned 
Owl answers and comes readily to an imitation of its deep “Whoo-who-who” 
challenge at night. 
Economic Status. The economic status of this bird depends upon 
where it lives. In the deep woods away from settlement it is, of course, 
harmless to man and only the wild creatures it preys upon are affected by 
it. In settled districts it is to be guarded against in every possible way. 
Of 110 stomachs examined, 31 contained poultry or game-birds; 8, other 
birds; 13, mice; 65, other mammals; 1, a scorpion; 1, fish; and 10, insects. 
The evidence, is, therefore, decidedly against this Owl. There is no danger 
that over-restriction will result in its extermination since it is perfectly 
