44 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [March 



both Wilson and Audubon considered the European and American 

 osprey of the same species. 



Strigid^. 



American Barn Owl (Strix Pratincola, Bonap,') — Apparently 

 rare in Newfoundland : I only examined one specimen during my 

 residence there, which, having only the first joint of the wing 

 broken, was kept alive several days by the children of the man 

 who shot it : this occurred in August, 1866. It is probably a 

 summer migrant. 



Great Horned Owl, (Bubo Virginianus, Gmel^ — Visits New- 

 foundland for the purpose of nidification, and is not very 

 uncommon during that season, and more especially later in the 

 summer when the young leave the nests. It is called the " cat 

 owl" by the settlers. The only nest which came under my 

 observation was built on the ground, on a tussock of grass in the 

 centre of a pond. The same nest had been previously occupied 

 for several years by a pair of geese (Bernicla canadensis). I 

 think it the more important to note this observation (which, 

 however, may not be constant even in Newfoundland, as birds of 

 prey are very varying in this respect) as Mr. E. A. Samuels, in 

 the ' Birds of Massachusetts,' says it " nests in hollows of trees, 

 and in high forks of pines." 



Mottled Owl, or American Screech Owl, (Scops Asio Linn.) — 

 A summer migrant to Newfoundland, and tolerably common. 

 As this is one of the commonest owls in North America, it seems 

 strange that Mr. Downs should not meet with it in Nova Scotia, 

 especially as it frequents the States bordering on the Atlantic 

 more than those inland. 



American Long-eared Owl, (Otus Wilsonianus, Lesson.) — Not 

 common : I only examined one specimen, which was killed near 

 Cow Head. It appears to be a summer migrant. 



American Short-eared Owl, (Brachyotus Cassini, Brewer.) — 

 Not common, but I think rather more so than Otus Wilsonianus. 

 It is a summer migrant. 



Barred Owl, (Syrnium nebulosum Forster). Apparently a 

 summer migrant, but not common ; at least I only obtained one 

 specimen, shot at Cow Head in September, 1866. 



Saw-whet Owl, (Nyctale acadia Gmelin). — Not uncommon, 

 and well known to the settlers as the "saw- whet." I only 



