CINCINNATI ZOO GUIDE 
for the dimmer twilight of evening and dawn. Light bewilders 
an owl, causing it to blink uncomfortably and with as much 
apparent distress as a human being brought suddenly from a 
room of inky blackness into the broad glare of the noonday. 
Among the owls in our collection are : 
The Snowy Owl (Nyctea niveo). Which is found in arctic and 
semi-arctic regions. It is a day-flying bird and a terrible foe to 
the small mammals as well as the small birds. It is also a good 
fisherman; it catches fish by skimming the surface of streams 
and snatching them as they rise after food. 
The Screech Owl (Scops asio). This is familiar to all farmers. 
It is about nine inches in length and has buff plumage streaked 
with black, white and gray. It feeds on rats and mice and is 
regarded as a friend by farmers. 
The Great Horned Owl (Bubo verginianus). This is the 
largest owl found in the United States. It is so called because of 
the tuft of feathers on each side of its head. It is also frequently 
called the cat owl, because the tufts are erected at will, and 
when erected, give its head a feline appearance. Its prey con¬ 
sists of young rabbits, squirrels, rats and mice, partridges and 
small birds. It frequently prowls around farm yards and 
carries off chickens from the roost. This owl is rarely seen 
abroad by day; never unless disturbed. 
There are usually from ten to twelve eagles in the collection. 
They are of particular interest to the people of the United 
States because, by reason of their elevated and splendid flying, 
the bald eagle was long ago selected as typifying American 
freedom. 
THE GOLDEN EAGLE (.Aquila chrysaetos ) 
North America. This is the largest and most magnificent of 
these noble birds. It is found in almost all parts of the world. 
Its color is a rich, blackish brown; its head and neck are covered 
with golden red feathers. These give the bird its name. The 
female is generally the larger, sometimes measuring three feet 
six inches and eight feet in expanse of wings. 
[ 82 ] 
