42 XORTIt AMERICAN BIRDS. 



the winter of 1863, and mentions two other specimens, also taken within 

 the limits of the State. It is not mentioned hy Dr. Cooper as among the 

 birds of California. 



Specimens of this Owl w^ere taken at Fort Simpson in May, and at Fort 

 Eesolution hy Mr. B. K. IJoss, at Big Island by IMr. J. I'lcid, at Fort I!ae by 

 Mr. L. Clarke, and at Fort Yukon by Jlr. J. Lockhart and Mr. J. ilcDongall, 

 and at Selkirk Settlement, in February and ]\Iarch, by Mr. Donald Guini. 



Mr. B. E. Eoss states that though no specimens of this Owl were received 

 from nortli of Fort Simpson, yet he is quite certain that it ranges to the 

 Arctic Circle. He says it is a fierce bird, and creates great havoc among the 

 flocks of Linnets and oilier small birds. Its nest is built on trees, and the 

 eggs are three or four in number, of a pure wliite color and nearly round 

 shape. It sometimes seizes on the deserted hole of a Woodpecker for a 

 habitation. 



Mr. Dall obtained a female specimen of this Owl at Xulato, April 28, 

 where it was not uncommon. It was often heard crying in the evenings, 

 almost like a human being, and was quite fearless. It could be readily 

 taken in the hand without its making any attempt to fly away, but it had 

 a habit of biting viciousl3^ It was frequently seen in the daytime sitting 

 on trees. According to the Indians, it generally nests in holes in dead 

 trees, and lays six spherical wliite eggs. Eichardson informs us that it 

 inhabits all the wooded country from Great Slave Lake to the United 

 States, and is very common on the banks of the Saskatchewan. It was 

 obtained in Canada by the Countess of Dalhousie, but at what season the 

 bird was met with is not .stated ; the Smithsonian Institution also pos- 

 sesses specimens from the vicinity of JMontreal. It jirobably does not breed 

 so fi^r soutli as that place, or, if so, very rarely. ^Ir. Audubon procured 

 a specimen near Bangor, Elaine, in September, the only one he ever met 

 with. 



This Owl, according to Mr. Hutcbins, builds a nest of grass half-way uji 

 a pine-tree, and lays two eggs in the month of May. 



A drawing, taken by Jlr. Audubon from a specimen in an English cabinet, 

 represents a nearly spherical egg, the color of which is white with a slight 

 tinge of yellowish, and which measures ].18 inches in length by one inch in 

 breadth. 



The only authenticated eggs of this variety which have come under my 

 notice are three collected at Fort Simpson, May 4, 1861, by B. E. Eoss. 

 One of tliese measures 1.28 by 1.06 inches. 



