NYCTALE TENGMALMI VAR. RICHARDSONI. 313 



its talons, sometimes meeting tleath in the rashness of its onslaught. 

 When wounded it displays similar courage, boldly facing the enemy 

 and preparing to defend itself with all its might — "calmly and silently 

 it maintains its ground, or springs from a short distance on its foe. So, 

 bravely it dies, without a thought of glory and witliout a chance of 

 fame ; for of its kind there are no cowards." 



"This species is seldom met with except in the arctic regions. Occa- 

 sionally, during severe winters, it is driven as far south as the latitude 

 of Philadelphia, owing to a scarcity of food in its natural haunts. Sam- 

 uels aftirms that he 'has known several specimens to be taken in Ver- 

 mont and New Hampshire,' and expresses the belief that it builds 

 occasionally in the New England States. The writer and a very inti- 

 mate friend of his, who is a taxidermist, have taken specimens as early 

 as the middle of October. In the former's collection is a beautiful speci- 

 men of a female that was shot on the 15th day of last October, the ther- 

 mometer indicating a rather high temperature at the time. It was shot 

 in the middle of the day, while careering hawk-like through the air, 

 doubtless in (piest of the tield-mouse, which is found in meadow grounds 

 in profusion, and which it prizes most assuredly as one of its daintiest 

 morsels. 



"The southern appearance of individuals on many occasions, so early 

 in the fall, in rather mild weather, leads to the supposititm that it is 

 either a summer resident in small numbers, and performs the essential 

 duties of niditication and incubation here[f], or else, having attended to 

 these important concerns in more northern climes, journeys southward, 

 where it meets with a temj)erature which it has recently learned to re- 

 gard as more congenial than the rigors of an arctic autumn. The 

 writer is sanguine of the discovery of nests in this latitude. Like many 

 birds on their entrance into a new territory, this species may be shy 

 and reserved, and conse<iuently nidificates in out-of-the-way situations. 

 Familiarity with the country and its denizens, acijuired by a few years' 

 occupancy, may o[)erate in the production of changes of habits and dis- 

 lK)sition. Distrustfulness will undoubtedly give place to confidence, 

 and more of its history will be known. 



"It is said by some writers that the species is crepuscular rather than 

 nocturnal. The writer'sexi)erience has been the former. There is nodoubt 

 that it fr<'(iuently hunts in the twilight; but the nu)vements of the bird 

 during the day-time, both in Avatching for its prey and in its ca])ture, are 

 certain evidence to his mind of the truth of the assertion. While on 

 the alert for its prey, it stations itself upon the toi)most bough of a tree, 

 and, as soon as the object of its desire couu's in view, pounces down upon 

 it like a hawk, and bears it away to devour it at its leisure. Frecpieiitly 

 it goes abroad in search of juey, skimming above meadows and low 

 fields, at a slight elevation, until its object is secured." — {Gentry.) 



NYCTALE TENGMALMI var. RICHARDSONI, (lip.) Kidgw. 



KUiiardsoirs Owl. 



a, tempnahni. 



Sh-ix iiiirliiii. Tr.NG., Act. Stockli. i, 178:?. 



6lrix tciK/iiKtlmi, (iM., i, iiUl.— Lath., i, G4.— Daid., ii, i5ur).— Suaw, (J. Z. vii. IHO'J, '207.— 



TiCMM., Man. iHlf), 54 ; i, i>4 ; iv, 41).— Vu:nx., Ual. i, pi. 'SA ; Kn. Eraiiv. 48, pi. 



'J:?. f. 1.— Naim., V. 1). i, 1622, r.Ol, pi. 48, f. 2, :{.— DixiL., Orn. Enr. i, VM.— 



ScMi... Uiv. ("lit. 1844. 15. 



ScMi... Uiv. Crir. 1844, 15. 

 Athene leinjmalnii, IJnii;, Isis, 1822, 771 



