^°189i!^'] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 437 



two eggs and two young, both of which had lately died. The female 

 left the nest at our approach and flew to another tree at some distance, 

 where she was shot. 



371. Nyctala tengmalmi richardsoni (Bonap.). Richardson's Owl. 



This owl, or a bird closely answering to the description, was repeat- 

 edly observed in the country between Fort Good Hope and the Ander- 

 son River. 



375b. Bubo virginianus arcticus (Swainson). Arctic Horned Owl. 



A similar remark to that made regarding J^o. 371 will also prove 

 correct under this owl, or to the B. virginianus subarcticus of Hoy. 



376. Nyctea nyctea (Linn.). Snowy OwL 



This species is not plentiful in the Anderson country, while every 

 eflbrt made to secure even one specimen nest with its eggs proved 

 unsuccessful. On one occasion we noticed a white owl hunting mar- 

 mots {Spennophilus empetra) in the barren grounds; and there can be 

 no doubt that this and other owls sometimes rob ptarmigan and duckSj 

 etc., of their eggs. 



377a. Surnia ulula caparoch (Miill.). American Hawk OwL 



The Hawk Owl is not uncommon in the region of Anderson River, 

 although only four nests were discovered and the eggs taken there- 

 from. All of these were built in pine trees at a considerable height 

 from the ground. One was actually placed on the topmost boughs, 

 and, like the others, it was constructed of small sticks and twigs lined 

 with hay and moss. The male and female of the latter were shot, and 

 the nest contained two young birds, one of which was apparently ten 

 days and the other three weeks old, together with an addled egg. All 

 of the others, however, but one, had six eggs, and in a single instance 

 as many as seven were secured. The i^arents always disapproved of 

 our proceedings. Very few owls were observed on the lines of march 

 traveled over during the seasons of 1864 and 1865. This species win- 

 ters in Arctic America. 



390. Ceryle alcyon (Linn). Belted Kingfisher. 



Although several birds were seen on the Anderson and elsewhere, 

 and some skins were obtained from the Esquimaux, yet we never found 

 any nests, nor received its eggs from any of the natives. 



400. Picoides arcticus (Swainson). Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker. 



It is believed that this species breeds and also winters in the Arctic 

 regions. My notes record the finding at Fort Anderson, on 30th May, 

 1863, of a nest containing tliree i^erfectly fresh eggs — -a mere hole in a 



