218 BULLETIN 17 0, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



three specimens, and have had them reported from various parts of the Province. 

 One of my acquaintances stationed at Barrie, received twenty-six this season. 

 They began to come into this region in November, and increased in numbers up 

 to February, after which they became very scarce again." This is the largest 

 flight recorded, but specimens have been taken in December 1890, January 1894, 

 January and March 1895, and January and February 1896; the visits appear to 

 have ceased after this. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — Northern parts of the Northern Hemisphere. 



Breeding range. — In North America the breeding range of the great 

 gray owl extends north to Alaska (Nulato, Nenana, Salcha Slough, 

 and Fort Yukon) ; Yukon (La Pierre House) ; and northern Mackenzie 

 (Lockhart River)- East to Mackenzie (Lockhart River and Fort 

 Resolution); and Alberta (Fort Chipewyan and Whitemud Lake). 

 South to Alberta (Whitemud Lake) ; southern Mackenzie (Fort Prov- 

 idence, Willow River, mouth of Nahanni River, and Fort Wrigley); 

 and central Alaska (Birch Lake and Hooper Bay). West to western 

 Alaska (Hooper Bay, Yukon Delta, and Nulato). See also casual 

 records below. 



There are a few observations in more southern latitudes at dates 

 that suggest nesting. Among these are: Quebec, an individual seen 

 near Riviere Madeleine, Gaspe" County, on August 16, 1924; Minne- 

 sota, one seen on July 12, 1928, at Bigfork, northern Itasca County; 

 Montana, three, believed to be immatures were seen on July 4, 1931, 

 near Stryker, and an old-time trapper and woodsman reported that 

 one summer he had seen two adults with four young near Fortine. 



Winter range. — This species is not regularly migratory, but at 

 times (probably owing to shortage of food) it extensively invades 

 more southern regions. During winter it has been recorded north to 

 Alaska (Diamond and Fort Yukon); Yukon (Fortymile) ; central 

 Alberta (Athabaska Landing and Mundare); and Quebec (Montreal). 

 East to Quebec (Montreal); and rarely Massachusetts (Marblehead, 

 Boston, and Taunton). South to rarely Massachusetts (Springfield); 

 New York (Fulton County, Painted Post, and Watson); southern 

 Ontario (Toronto and South March); Michigan (Hillman, Elk Rap- 

 ids, and Salt Ste. Marie); Wisconsin (Racine and Iron River); Minne- 

 sota (Goodhue, Hennepin, and McLeod Counties) ; Montana (Billings, 

 Buffalo-horn Creek, and Corvallis); and Oregon (Prospect and Med- 

 ford). West to Oregon (Medford and Willamette River); Washing- 

 ton (Shoalwater Bay and Seattle); British Columbia (Chilliwack and 

 Barkerville) ; and Alaska (Stikine Flats and Diamond). 



Migration. — The winter movement (when it occurs) appears to be 

 as much to the east as to the south. Nearly all the records for the 

 eastern part of the continent are for the period October to March. 



Flights of considerable numbers of these owls passing eastward 

 along Lake Ontario were observed in 1889-90 and again in 1907. 



