74 BIRDS OF PREY. 



2 eggs in the month of May. It feeds on mice and beetles. 

 It probably inhabits all the forests of the fur countries from 

 Great Slave Lake to the United States. On the banks of the 

 Saskatchewan it is so common that its voice is heard almost 

 every night by the traveller wherever he may select his camp. 

 It inhabits the woods along the streams of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains down to the Oregon, and betrays but little suspicion 

 when approached. 



Richardson's Owl is usually a rare winter visitor to the Maritime 

 Provinces ; but Mr. C. B. Cory found it common and breeding on 

 the Magdalene Islands, and a few examples have been taken in 

 New Brunswick in summer. 



It is common on the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 

 though rare near the city of Quebec ; it occurs sparingly in winter 

 along the northern border of New England and in southern Onta- 

 rio, and occasionally straggles to Massachusetts and Connecticut. 

 Thompson reports it common in Manitoba, and it is found through- 

 out the fur country. Mr. Nelson reports these birds breeding in 

 northern Alaska, where they occupy the deserted nests of other 

 birds — usually on bushes. 



Dr. Merriam, on the authority of Mr. Comeau, of Point de Monts, 

 describes the cry of this Owl as " a low liquid note that resembles 

 the sound produced by water slowly dropping from a height." 



