428 Notes on Birds wiiitering aroujid Montreal. 



I 



and although I only saw one bird there during the winter of 1859, 

 yet, I am confident they are numerous on some parts of the moun- 

 tain. They are also found in a swamp near Mile-end road. 



Ptarmigan or Arctic Partridge. (^Tetrao mutus), I bought a 

 fine specimen of this bird from a Canadian in the market ; it 

 was shot near Sorel. 



Owls. The winter is the owls' summer, yet they stay with us 

 both winter and summer. During the hot weather they retire to 

 the depths of the forests. But in winter they roam over plains, 

 forests and villages, some even taking up their abode in barns to 

 prey upon the mice, &c. I have seen the great Horned Owl [Strix 

 Virginiana) sitting on a barn near Sherbrooke street. There are 

 of them more or less every winter for sale in the market. 



To commence, we will take the Hawk Owl ( Strix funerea). 

 This bird is in some respects like an Hawk, and in others like the 

 Owl, but it is an Owl nevertheless. It becomes very abundant 

 in the fall, or rather beginning of December, and generally 

 stays all winter ; they fly about by day more than the other 

 species. 



The Barred Owl [Strix nehulosa). I saw a specimen of 

 this Owl as early as September this year. They have been seen 

 during January and most of the winter on Nun's Island, and some- 

 times on our mountain. It is also seen on St. Helen's Island, one 

 being shot there January 1857. I have seen it exposed for sale 

 in the market for the last four winters. 



The Little Owl [Strix passerina) is not very often seen ; I have 

 one specimen from our mountain shot several winters ago. 



The Short Eared Owl. [Strix hrachyotus). I obtained a specimen 

 of this owl also from our mountain last winter. 



The Long Eared Owl. (^Strix otus). This owl is very rare 

 here also, it is bometimes seen on the Mile-end race-course, and 

 at Logan's farm. 



The Great Horned Owl [Strix Virginiana) is common about 

 Montreal during winter, specimens being for sale every winter in the 

 market, I kept one of these birds alive for some time ; he 

 ftte raw meat voraciously. 



The Snowy Owl, [Strix nyctea) is rather rare about the 

 immediate neighbourhood of the city, but is generally brought into 

 the market every winter. I have noticed it at Nun's Island and on 

 our mountain. The winter of 1859 brought seven Snowy Owls 

 to the market, last winter (1860) there were only two in the same 



