104 A HAND-LIST OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



Carnarvon, Nov. 10, 1899. Somerset, Oct. 6, 1901. Hants., 

 Oct. 30, 1901. Scotland.— Colonssiy Isle (Argyll.), Xov. 6, 1904. 

 Ireland. — Cork, autumn, 1825. Dublin, autumn, 1832 [cf. Yarrell, 

 Saunders, and Brit. B., i, p. 284, iv, p. 126). 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Breeds in south parts of North America, 

 migrates through West Indies and Central America, and winters in 

 South America. Rare straggler to Europe (Italy, Belgium). 



COCCYZUS ERYTHROPHTHALMUS 



217. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus (Wilson) — THE AMERICAN 

 BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. 



CrcuLUs ERYTHROPHTHALMUS Wilson, Amer. Om., iv, 1811, 16, pi. 28, 

 fig. 2 (1811 — Typical locality probably near Philadelphia). 

 Coccyzus erythrophthalmus Yarrell, 11, p. 415 (footnote); Saunders, p. 290 

 (in text). 



Distribution. — Ireland. — One Killead (Antrim), Sept. 25, 1871 

 [Zool. 1872, p. 3022 ; Proc. Zool. Sac, 1872, p. 661 ; Yarrell, 

 Saunders, and Birds Ireland, p. 401). 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Breeds in eastern half of North America, 

 from south-east Alberta, south Manitoba, south Quebec, south to 

 Arkansas, North Carolina, and mountains of Georgia. Winters in 

 South America and has occurred as a vagrant in Italy and the 

 Azores. 



NYCTEA NYCTEA* 



218. Nyctea nyctea (L.)— THE SNOWY OWL. 



Strix Xyctea Linna?as, Syst. Xat., ed. x, i, p. 93 (1758 — " Habitat in 

 Europa et America septentrionali." Restricted typical locality : Sweden). 

 Nyctea scandiaca (Linnseus), Yarrell, i, p. 187 ; Saunders, p. 303. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Almost regular winter-visitor to 

 Shetlands and frequent Orkney's and Hebrides, often on mainland 

 of Scotland and in Ireland, where nearly forty recorded, chiefly 

 in north and north-west, and most numerously Mayo. In 

 England three taken in Northumberland, one and several seen 

 Yorks., ten Norfolk, one Suffolk, some five Devon, one Somerset, 

 one Scillv Isles. Occurs from Sept. to April, and one (Mayo) 

 July 21, 1906. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Circumpolar, some birds migrating into 

 the temperate zone in winter, in Europe occasionally as far south as 

 France, Switzerland, Caspian and Black Seas. 



* Linnseus's name scandiaca cannot be accepted, because he referred to 

 an owl with long ears, and thus could not have meant the Snowy Owl. — E.H. 



