Jan., 1909. Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 497 



1 8 la. Bubo virginianus subarcticus (Hoy). 

 Arctic Horned Owl. 



Distr.: Interior of northern British America, Hudson Bay to the 

 Mackensie River region, south to the northern United States in 

 winter. 



This northern form differs from our common species, B. virginia- 

 nus, in being much paler, the general coloration more gray and white, 

 with decidedly less brownish or ochraceous buff. 



It must be considered as merely an accidental straggler in Illinois 

 and a rare winter visitant in Wisconsin. 



Nelson includes it in his Birds of N. E. Illinois as a rare winter 

 visitant and says: "Have a fine specimen in my collection taken the 

 last of December, 1874. It was given by Dr. Hoy as having been 

 taken at Racine, Wisconsin." Kumlien and Hollister state: 

 "Taken by Hoy at Racine and by Kumlien at Lake Koshkonong, 

 both at an early day, a fine specimen preserved in the Milwaukee 

 Public Museum was procured at Ashland, January, 1886." 



It is not improbable that the Western Horned Owl, B. v. palles- 

 cens, may occur within our limits, as it has been recorded from North 

 Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. It is darker than virginianus and the 

 under parts are more heavily barred. 



There has been more or less confusion as to name of this sub- 

 species. Swainson's name arcticus, as has been shown by Dr. Rich- 

 mond, is preoccupied and untenable and he has revived subarcticus 

 of Hoy for the northern form. 



Genus NYCTEA Stephens. 



182. Nyctea nyctea (Linn.). 



Snowy Owl. 



Distr.: Arctic regions; south in winter in North America to mid- 

 dle states; accidental as far south as Carolina, Texas, and California; 

 breeds north of the United States. 



Adult: Varying from pure white to white, spotted and barred 

 with grayish brown or dusky; no ear tufts; feet, thickly feathered; 

 bill, black; iris, yellow. Pure white specimens are rare. 



Length, about 24; wing, 16 to 17.50; tail, about 9.50. 



The Snowy Owl is a winter visitant, varying in numbers in differ- 

 ent years; at times not uncommon. 



Mr. E. W. Nelson gives the Snowy Owl as a regular winter resident 



