ZOOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 



271 



E. E. Brewster reports it from Iron Mountain; breeds; nests in February 

 and March, in thit;k forests, in trees, nest of other birds, or in hollows of 

 trees; " Frank Judson of Kalamazoo, has found many nests, sometimes with a 

 single egg, usually two, but in rare cases three " (Dr. M. Gibbs); F. M. Falconer 

 found a nest February 25, 1891, and the April following the Red-tailed Hawk 

 occupied the same nest, each bird had occupied this nest in turn for years; 

 eggs one to four, generally two or three, white, nearly spherical; two eggs taken 

 at Plymouth. March 20, 1892, by J. B. Purdy; this owl is often taken in hen 

 houses; it should not be confused with the Long-eared Owl, though it is often 

 called by that name; it is nearly as common here as the Screech and common 

 Barred Owls; "very valuable in rabbit infested districts, though sometimes trouble- 

 some in destroying poultry"' (Dr. A. K. Fisher); one taken at the college May 

 9, 1893, had entered a poultry house and destroyed three chickens. It was a 

 large female and had only minute eggs in the ovaries. 



172-37oa-(-l:63). Bubo virgiulaniis sul)arcticiis {Hoy.). Westekn Horned Owl. 



Rare; "without doubt, as Mr. A. B. Covert eays, rare or accidental in Michi- 

 gan, as it occurs in Wisconsin antl Northern Illinois" (A. W. Butler). It is 

 possible that this bird and also the Arctic Horned Owl may be taken in North- 

 ern Michigan. Coues includes in No. 46 J this and the sub-species arcticu.s. 



«ENUS NYCTE4. Steph. 



Snowy Owl, reduced. 



173-37(>-(479). Nyctea nyctea [Linn.]. * Snowy Owl; White Owl. 



Common in winter; throughout the state; ten taken in December at South 

 Haven by E. H. Lockwood (American Field, Vol. XXVII); "often taken at Albion 



