72 NORTH AMERICAX BIRDS. 



1862 as late as tlic last of May, and, in 'Sir. Boardman's opinion, were 

 breeding in tliat neighborhood. In the western part of Maine ^Ir. Verrill 

 found it also rather rare, and met with it only in winter He states that it 

 differs greatly in disposition Ironi tlio Ch-eat Horned Owl, being naturally 

 very gentle, and becoming very readily <iuite tame in confinement, differing 

 very much in this respect from most large licqjtoirs. 



it makes its appearance in Massachusetts aliout the middle or last of 

 Novemljer, and in some seasons is quite common, though never present in 

 very large numbers. It is bold, but rather ^^■ary ; coming into thick groves 

 of trees in close proximity to cities, which indeed it frecpiently enters, but 

 keeping a sharp lookout, and never suffering a near approacli. It hunts by 

 dayliglit, and appears to di.stinguish objects witliout difficulty. Its flight 

 is noiseless, graceful, easy, and at times quite ra])id. In .some seasons it 

 appears to wander over the whole (jf the I'nitcd States east of the Ilocky 

 IVIountains. Dr. Heermann having ol)tained a specimen of it ncsar San An- 

 tonio, Texas, in the winter of 1857. 



It is m(n-e abundant, in winter, near the coai?t, than in tlie interior, and in 

 the latter keeps in the neighborhood of I'ivers and streams, watching by the 

 open places for opportunities to catch fish. Mv. Audubon desciibes it as 

 very expert and cunning in fishing, crouching on the edges of air-holes in 

 the ice, and instantly seizing any fish that may come to the surface. It also 

 feeds on hares, squirrels, rats, and other small animals. It watches the traps 

 set for animals, especially muskrats, and devours them when caught. In the 

 stomacli of one Mr. Audubon found tlie wlmle of a large house-rat. Its 

 own flesh, j\Ir. Audubon affirms, is fine and delicate, and furnislies very 

 good eating. It is described as a very silent bird, and Air. Audubon has 

 never known it to utter a note or to make any sound. 



I'lichardson states that a few remain in the Arctic regions even in mid- 

 winter, but usually in the more slieltered districts, whither it has followed 

 the Ptarmigan, on which it feeds. When seen on tlie Barren Grounds, it was 

 generally squatting on the earth, and, if disturbed, alighted again after a 

 short flight. In the more wooded districts it is said to lie bolder, and is 

 even known to watch the Grouse-shooters, and to share in their spoils, 

 skimming from its perch on a high tree, and carrying off' tlu' bird before 

 the sportsman can get near it. 



Mr. MacFarlane writes from Fort Anderson that he did not find tliis spe- 

 cies abundant in tliaf ((uartov, and tliat its eggs were uidaiown to liim. Air. 

 B. R Ross .speaks of this Owl as widely distributed, but not common. He 

 found it a winter resident, and has repeatedly seen it at that season near 

 Fort Resolution, and it has been shot in February at Fort Norman. It is 

 very destructive to tlie snares set by the Indians, eating the hares and 

 breaking Die snares, in which they are sometimes caught. The Indians are 

 said to attract these birds near enough to be sliot at, by tying a mouse or a 

 piece of hare's skin to a line, and letting it drag behind them. 



