322 
BIRDS OF NEW MEXICO 
ranchmen in fighting the hordes . . . which infest his fields and ranges'’ (Fisher, 
1907, p. 15). 
General Habits. —Two forms of the Great Horned Owls are found 
in New Mexico, the lighter, Pallid, extending north from northern 
Mexico; the darker Western Horned Owl extending south from Canada 
through the Rocky Mountain region. In their respective territories, 
they are found throughout the State, except at the higher altitudes, 
principally in canyons, cliffs, and caves, but also in dense timber and 
in large trees in the open. 
The nests seem to be mainly below 8,000 feet, and many of the birds 
heard, below 7,000 feet; but late in the summer and early in the fall 
both old and young of the year are found high in the mountains. 
Although there is great variation in the dichromatic plumage of 
the Great Horned Owls, the general color pattern gives it great advan¬ 
tage over its prey. While so large a bird, when seen in the woods, the 
pattern of its underparts—what Abbott Thayer terms horizontal branch 
barrings—like the crossbars of other birds of the forest tends to make 
it blend in with the network of bare branches; while the subtle, broken 
markings of wing and back suggest a “forest-vista” pattern; carrying 
the eye well on beyond the bird itself (1909, p. 41). From below, the 
ear-tufts, white collar, and wrist-spot are distinctive. 
The molt of the Horned Owl seems to be late. One taken September 
6, at about 8,500 feet was only beginning to molt, while another, taken 
September 26, 15 miles south of Acoma, was still largely in pinfeathers. 
The large feathers of the Owl have been used by the Indians to 
decorate their arrows. 
While the solemn,’ deep-toned who who who who who of the Great 
Horned Owls heard after sunset and before sunrise from high trees or 
cliffs is a familiar camp sound, the strange shrill scream of the young 
owl, while equally characteristic, it is thought, is sometimes mistaken 
for the blood-curdling mysterious cry of the mountain lion. Although, 
like most owls, more often heard than seen, and though heard generally 
at night, Mr. Henshaw says the Horned Owl has excellent vision in the 
bi ightest hours of the day, and while caring for its young he thinks 
it hunts indifferently by day and night. 
In Largo Canyon at sunset we discovered a Bubo sitting on a low 
dead tree as if watching for the cottontails and jack rabbits that 
abounded in the Bigelovia thickets; and by moonlight at our next camp 
others were heard hooting softly to each other. 
At the entrance to the Carlsbad Cavern, at night Mr. Bailey heard 
the deep toned hoo, hoo, hoo, ooo,” breaking from the quiet darkness 
of the great, high arched doorway. Within the cave, “far back at 
the brink of the Devils Den, beyond the last ray of outside light, a 
