THE DUSKY HORNED OWL 389 



Its general habits and food are similar to those of the preceding races. In 

 the northern parts of its range nidification, as far as known, begins al)ont the 

 middle of April, and from two to fonr eggs are probably laid, and these are 

 indistinguishable from those of the other Horned Owls. 



Of the thi'ee specimens previously mentioned, tlie two taken by Mr. R. 

 Kennicott., near Fort Yukon, Alaska, Aj)ril 16, 18()2, measure 55 by 47.5 and 

 52.5 by 48 millimetres, and the other, from Fort Niscopcc, Labrador, taken 

 by Mr. H. Coimelly, measures 57.5 by 48.5 millimetres. None are figured. 



137. Nyctea nyctea (Linn^us.) 



SNOWY OWL. 



Sfrix nyctea Linn^us, Sy-stema Naturge, ed. 10, i, 1758, 9.3. , 



Nyctea nyctea Lichtenstein, Nomenclator Museo Berolinensis, 1854, 7. 



(B 01, C 335, R 406, C 479, U 370.) 



Geographical range: Extreme northern portions of northern hemisphere in 

 summer; migrating southward in winter in North America, almost across the United 

 States, and even reaching, accidentally, the Bermudas. 



The breeding range of the Snowy Owl in North America extends from 

 about latitude 53° in Lal)rador north to the Arctic Sea, and it has been 

 observed at the highest latiti.des our Arctic explorers have as yet been able 

 to reach. It is likewise common in Grreenlaud during the breeding season, 

 but much more so in the northern than the southern portions. Both Downes 

 and Reeks rejiort it abundant in Newfoundland during the greater part of 

 the year, but I cannot find any })ositive records that it has actually been 

 found breeding on this island, though it may do so in limited numbers in 

 the less often visited parts of the interior. It is very doubtful if it nests at 

 any time south of Ip.titude 53° N., although it has been reported as nesting 

 occasionallv in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and northern Maine. Mr. Le 

 Grand T. Meyer records it as breeding in M.uiitoba, the exact locality not 

 stated, wlun-e he says he found a nest containing six more or less iuculiated 

 eggs, February 26, 1879. He states: "I learned tliat a pair had used the 

 same nest for two years. * * * The nest, aggregated by the several 

 additions, was about 18 inches ahove the level of the prairie, composed of 

 hay, gi-ass, and sticks, warmly lined with feathers from their breasts."' 



Gen. A. W. Greely, Chief Signal Officer, U. S. Army, mentions a nest 

 of this species taken near Fort C(mger, Grinnell Land, May 25, 1882, and 

 young birds on July 8. He says: "The Snowy Owls bred abundantly in 

 the vicinity of Fort Conger, and as many as fifteen or tweut)--five young 

 birds were raised in 1882, and kept by us until approaching winter com- 

 pelled us to release them. A nest near Fort Conger resembled that described 

 by Major Feilden, which was a mere hollow scooped out of the earth and 



' Oiilogists Exchange, Vol. 1, No. 4. I S'^e this reeoiil, but have not been able to verify it.— C. B. 



