372 BULLETIN 17 0, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Netarts); Washington (Westport, Seattle, and Bellingham); British 

 Columbia (Victoria and Chilliwack); and Alaska (Ketchikan, Sitka, 

 and Nushagak). 



Migration.- — Ornithological history has recorded many invasions 

 of southern latitudes by large numbers of snowy owls. While the 

 species appears to make more or less regular migratory journeys, it 

 has been assumed that these mass movements are caused by a shortage 

 of the lemmings and hares that constitute their normal food in the 

 north. It also has been postulated that few if any of the owls that 

 make the flight south ever return to their northern habitat. Un- 

 fortunately, it is true that these fine birds are killed ruthlessly, as 

 witness the heavy flight of 1902 when it was estimated that no less 

 than 1,000 were killed in the general vicinity of Toronto, Ontario. 

 Nevertheless, banding records in the files of the Biological Survey 

 definitely prove that at least some of the migrants not only return to 

 their breeding range but (more surprising) return during subsequent 

 winters to the same area. Many of these owls have been banded at 

 Fairdale, N. Dak., and from this work some 8 or 10 recovery records 

 are available. Birds banded in winter and spring have been recap- 

 tured in the same area during the succeeding winter and also after a 

 lapse of two or three years. One, banded in March 1930, was killed 

 at Fort George, Quebec, about September 10, 1932. 



Fall migration. — Early dates of fall arrival are: Southern British 

 Columbia — Chilliwack, November 12; Okanagan Landing, November 

 23. Washington — Walla Walla, November 9; Tacoma, November 10. 

 Oregon — Sheridan, November 30. Montana — Kalispell, October 14; 

 Great Falls, October 16; Tom Minor Basin, Park County, October 26. 

 Idaho — Meridian, November 23. Colorado — Denver, November 22. 

 Manitoba — Winnipeg, September 20; Aweme, September 26; Oak 

 Lake, October 28. North Dakota — Grafton, October 10; Argusville, 

 October 26; Marstonmoor, November 5. South Dakota — -Yankton, 

 October 27; Parkston, November 7; Lake Poinsett, November 15. 

 Nebraska — Brunswick, November 21 ; Omaha, November 22. Minne- 

 sota — Minneapolis, October 15; Elk Kiver, October 23. Wisconsin — 

 Delavan, September 22; Shiocton, October 23; Racine, October 26. 

 Iowa- — Osage, November 13; Sioux City, November 16; National, 

 November 19. Ontario — Toronto, October 13 ; Dunnville, October 23 ; 

 Point Pelee, October 29. Michigan — Sault Ste. Marie, September 26; 

 Palmer, October 7; Detroit, October 29. Ohio — Austinburg, October 

 23; Mentor, October 25; Sandusky, October 27. Indiana — Fowler, 

 November 4; Mellott, November 4; Washington, November 5. 

 Illinois— Chicago, November 3; Huntley, November 10; Highland 

 Park, November 17. New Brunswick — Grand Manan, October 20. 

 Maine — Cape Neddick Light, October 19; Machias, November 3. 

 Vermont — Vergennes, October 20; Cornwall, November 13. Massa- 



