The Horned Owls 
Occurrence in California. —Recorded sparingly from the northeastern plateau 
district, probably the resident form. 
Authorities.—Swarth, Condor, vol. xxiii., 1921, p. 136 (Shumway, Lassen Co.); 
Oberholser, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxvii., 1904, p. 191 (monogr.). 
No. 2i8d Dusky Horned Owl 
A. O. U. No. 375c. Bubo virginianus saturatus Ridgway. 
Description.— Adult: Similar to.B. v. pacificus, but larger and darker; the dusky 
of upper plumage more extensive, the tawny somewhat reduced; underparts much 
darker, the ground-color (except area of breast) often entirely tawny, the dusky 
markings heavier, sometimes nearly confluent; the toes usually mottled, sometimes 
prevailingly dusky. Adult male: length 542.3 (21.35); wing 348.3 (13.71); tail 212.3 
(8.36); bill 28.9 (1.14). Adult female: length 593.1 (23.35); wing 374.7 (14.75); tail 
227.2 (8.95); bill from cere 30 (1.18). 
Remarks. —A strongly marked form from the northern coast belt whose influence 
is felt as far south as Monterey, prevailingly to San Francisco Bay region. A typical 
example of the darkening, "saturating,” influence of humidity. 
Recognition Marks. —As in B. v. pacificus; larger, darker. 
Range of B. v. saturatus. —Pacific Coast district from southern Alaska to south 
central California. 
Distribution in California. —Resident in the humid coastal strip, broadly 
defined at the north and including the San Franciscan embayment, narrowly defined 
in the southern reaches to about the southern border of San Luis Obispo County. 
"Probably of casual occurrence in the central Sierras” (Grinnell). 
Authorities.—Vigors ( Bubo virginianus ), Zool. Voy. “Blossom,” 1839, p. 15 
(San Francisco); Grinnell, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 11, 1915, p. 73 (status in Calif.). 
BY A FANTASTIC quirk of history the grizzly bear ( Ursus hor- 
ribilis) has become the emblem of California. In justification of this early 
whim, we can only urge that the bear is enthusiastic in welcome and gets 
an everlasting grip upon the stranger who ventures within her borders. 
In presenting Bubo horribilis , the grizzly bear of the bird world, we shall 
not be able to offer anything beyond the above named characteristics in 
his favor. Fie loves the darkness because his deeds are evil; and after the 
protecting sun has set, woe betide the mole or rabbit, Partridge, Jay, or 
Chanticleer, who dares to stir where this monster is a-wing. When cap¬ 
tured in a trap, as he sometimes is by aggrieved poultry fanciers, the 
ruffling of the feathers, the alternate hissing and fierce snapping of the 
mandibles, and the greenish yellow light which comes flashing from 
the great saucer eyes, all give fair warning of what one may expect from 
the free foot once it gets a chance to close upon a victim. 
Horned Owls in a state of nature do not pose for inspection unless 
forcibly detained. A steel trap is, of course, the surest method of deten¬ 
tion, but a mob of Blue-fronted Jays ranks a close second. Nothing can 
exceed the joy of the Jay upon the discovery of one of these grim death’s 
I Il/f 
