Nesting Habits of the Great-horned 
Owls. 
We have found three nests of this species 
•during the past few years near the river St. 
Lawrence. The first some years ago in a 
small tamarack tree, which in May held two 
young just able to fly. This nest had pre- 
viously been a Crow’s. The second in 1892, 
in a second-growth white pine. It was a 
disused squirrel’s abode, and on the 25th of 
April contained two young about a fortnight 
jj old. The young were not molested, but this 
year there were no signs of Owls in those 
,■ woods. This year we found a nest in a 
j white birch on the nth of April; it con- 
tained two eggs ; incubation advanced. The 
: same nest last year and the year before was 
tenanted by the Red-shouldered Hawk, 
which is our most common Hawk in this 
locality. This is all I know of the habits of 
Bubo Virginianus , except that we have 
kept one in confinement for several years, in 
fact since it was a nestling. I have it still. 
c.j r. 
Leeds Co., Ont. 
O. & O. Vol. 18, July, 1893 p. 103 
Birds of Dead River Region, Me. P. H. O. 
81. Bubo virginianus, (Great Horned Owl.) The 
most common Owl of the forests, where it oc- 
curred commonly at all seasons. Its bootings 
were heard every night in June, while in the 
woods, and several specimens were secured, one 
of which was in exceedingly light plumage, al- 
most savoring of albinism. These Owls would 
come about the camps in search of food, being at- 
tracted by the grouse, fish, etc., which we would 
suspend from some convenient sapling, and many 
a contemplated breakfast was spoiled ere we 
were aware of the nature of our thieving mid- 
night visitors. I heir raids on the poultry were 
of a serious nature, and they were an especial 
object of hatred to the farmers. The nesting of 
this Owl in the Maine forests has several times 
come under my observation. All nests were 
built by the birds and placed at a great height in 
the spruce trees, and near the edge of the forests, 
not in the interior as theorists would suppose. I 
have never found an excess of two eggs in any set. 
of the 
lighter plu 
Jo (my man) came into camp one night 
and reported that he had found an Owl’s 
nest, and that the Owl was the largest he 
had ever seen. Comparing it with skin 
t Horned Owl, he said it was 
iigniei ^!P>d had not any horns. 
Thinking it might be a Barred Owl, I in- 
quired if the eyes were black. “ No, they 
were black and yellow.” As the nest com 
tained no eggs, only two young, I did not 
take the time to examine, but it has since 
been a question with me whether that was 
not the nest of the G»at Grey Owl. 
^ ^ ^ 0.& O, IX, JW» 1884. p. 
O.&O. XI. Dec. 1886. p. 177 
I 
March 23, found nest of Great - horned 
Qjyl in a thick fir, with top broken off 
about twenty feet from the ground. On 
this stump was placed the nest, which re- 
minded me of a Heron’s in shape and 
texture. 
It contained two eggs, nearly fresh, 
which seemed to show these Birds did not 
breed quite so early as in the more south- 
ern New England States. 
Q.&O. IX, Jan. 1884. p. £ 
