CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 293 



few pairs breed there every year. A nest containing seven eggs 

 was found in Cataraqui marsh near Kingston, Ont., on May 23rd^ 

 1902, by Mr. Ed. Beaupre, Kingston. It was in a wet but grassy 

 place. Last year (1906) I was fortunate enough to see a nest myself 

 in Cataraqui marsh, containing two well grown young on May 30th. 

 (Rev. C. J. Young.) 



Twelve nests of this species were found in various situations in 

 the "barrens" as well as in wooded tracts, but all were on the ground, 

 and mere depressions apparently scraped for the purpose, and lined 

 with dried grasses and withered leaves ; a few feathers were noticed 

 in about half of them, and they seemed to have been plucked from 

 her breast by the parent bird. She occasionally sits very close on 

 her nest. The number of eggs in a nest varied between three and 

 five, and but one contained as many as seven. On 30th June, 1865, 

 an owl was observed flying about a particular spot in the barren 

 grounds, and we concluded that its mate was not far ofT, a suspicion 

 confirmed by its uneasy excitement as soon as a search was instituted. 

 Myself and four of our party were thus fully engaged over an hour 

 ere success rewarded our efforts by the female getting off her nest 

 in the centre of a small clump of dwarf willows, one foot in height, 

 just as she was almost trodden upon. It was composed of withered 

 grasses and feathers, and contained five eggs. We must have 

 frequently approached her in the course of our protracted search. 

 (Mac far lane.) 



1 have found this species nesting in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, 

 making its nest on the ground; it lays from five to seven eggs. 

 I have three sets that were taken at Shoalwater bay and Mackenzie 

 bay, arctic America. One set of five eggs was taken June 6th, 1898, 

 another set of four, June 4th, 1890, and another set of five, June 7th, 

 1898, so that the first week in June appears to be the time this bird 

 has fresh eggs in the arctic regions. The Eskimo name for this 

 bird is Nipaiclooktik. (W. Raine.) 



CLV. SYRNIUM Savigny. 1809. 

 368. Barred Owl. 



Syrnium varium (Barton) Preble. 1902. 

 Apparently a summer resident but not common in Newfound- 

 land. (Reeks.) Several specimens of the barred owl have been taken 

 at Moose Factory, James bay. (Preble.) A common resident of 



