GREAT GRAY OWL. 65 



sionally seen in Massachusetts in tlie depth of severe winters. 

 One was caught perched on a wood-pile, in a state of hstless 

 inactivity, in the morning after daylight, at Marblehead, in 

 February, 1831. This individual survived for several months, 

 and showed a great partiality for fish and birds. At times he 

 uttered a tremulous cry or ho ho ho ho hoo, not very dissimilar 

 to that of the Mottled Owl. At Hudson's Bay and Labrador 

 these Owls reside the whole year, and were found in the Ore- 

 gon territory by Mr. Townsend. They associate in pairs, fly 

 very low, and feed on mice and hares, which they seize with 

 such muscular vigor as sometimes to sink into the snow after 

 them a foot deep. With ease they are able to carry off the 

 alpine hare alive in their talons. In Europe the species ap- 

 pears wholly confined to the desert regions of Lapland, two or 

 three stragglers being all that have been obtained out of that 

 country by naturalists. 



1 )r. Richardson says that it is by no means a rare bird in the 

 fur countries, being an inhabitant of all the woody districts 

 lying between Lake Superior and latitudes 67° or 68° and 

 between Hudson's Bay and the Pacific. It is common on 

 the borders of Great Bear Lake ; and there, and in the higher 

 parallels of latitude, it must pursue its prey, during the summer 

 months, by daylight. It keeps, however, within the woods, and 

 does not frequent the barren grounds, like the Snowy Owl. nor 

 is it so often met with in broad daylight as the Hawk Owl, but 

 hunts principally when the sun is low, — indeed, it is only at such 

 times, when the recesses of the woods are deeply shadowed, 

 that the American hare and the marine animals on which the 

 Cinereous Owl chiefly preys, come forth to feed. On the 23d 

 of May I discovered a nest of this Owl, built on the top of a 

 lofty balsam poplar, of sticks, and lined with feathers. It con- 

 tained three young, which were covered with a whitish down. 



The capture in New England of several examples of this species 

 has been recorded. During the winter of 18S9-90, a number were 

 seen along the northern border of these States and in the southern 

 portions of Canada. Mr. Mclhvraith reported that a large number 

 had been taken near Hamilton. 

 VOL. I. — 5 



