482 THE SNOWY OWL. 



The cliamber window looked upon a flal kitchen roof tlnni wliicli projected 

 a l)rick chimney scmie ten feel away. At three o'ck)ck one morning a horril)Ie 

 niglitmare gave way to a still mcire horrible waking. Murder most fonl was 

 being committed on the root" just outsitle the open window, and the .shrieks 

 of the victims (at least se\en of them!) were drowned by the imprecations 

 of the attacking ])arty. — fire-eating pirates to the number of a do/.en. 

 Pandemonium reigned and my bones were liquid with fright — when suddenlv 

 the tumult ceased; nor could 1 imagine thru a whole sick dav what hail been 

 the occasion of the terrifying visitation. But two weeks later the conflict 

 was renewed, at a merciful distance this time. Peering out into the moon- 

 light I beheld one of the.se Owls perched upon the chimney of the church 

 hard by, gibbering and shrieking like one possessed. Cat-calls, groans, and 

 demoniacal laughter were varied by wails and screeches, as of souls in tor- 

 ment — an occasion most memorable. The ]irevious serenade had evidentlv 

 been rendered from the kitchen chimney, and I ]ira\' never to hear its equal. 

 The distribution of the Dusky Horned (Jwl is still a matter of con- 

 siderable uncertainty. It is reported not only from the woixled heights of 

 mountain ranges, lying far to ,southwai-il, but from Labra<lor as well. 

 Whether it is really a single stock which has bec<:)me so scattered, or whether 

 it is only that like conditions have affected di\'erse stocks in a similar fashion, 

 one cannot tell. I have set down those resident hinls found u])on the east 

 slopes of the Cascatles as of this form, Ijut a pair found nesting in the 

 wooded hills of Stevens County were undoulitedly of the lighter form. 

 Horned ( )wls retire in winter to some extent to lower levels and latitudes. 

 Bendire at Walla Walla found the Dusky ()\\1 to be more common at that 

 season than the breeding form, B. ?'. lagophoiuts. 



No. 195. 

 SNOWY OWL. 



A. O. U. No. 37^1. Nyctea nyctea (Linn.). 



Description. — .Iditlt male: Withcmt plumicorns: entire iilumage pure white, 

 sometimes ahnost unmarked, but usually more or less spotted or indistinctlv barred 

 above with pale brownish or fuscous, — perhaps heaviest on middle of back and 

 wing-coverts; wing-(|uills and tail feathers irregularly and sparingly spotted with 

 dusky ; below still fainter indications of dusky barrings ; legs and feet immaculate, 

 heavily feathered; bill and claws black; iris yellow. Adult female: Similar to 

 male, but much more heavily barred with brownish black, — only face, fore-breast 

 and feet unmarked ; top of head and hindneck spotted with dusky. Length 

 20.00-27.00 (508-685.8): wing 15.50-18.75 (30,^7-476-3); tail q.oo-io.50 ( 22S.6- 

 266.7) ; bill 1.10-I.40 (27.9-35.6). 



