1889-90.] ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT. 45 



six in one tree, eight of them being taken alive, and as he brought six 

 of them at once, I am bound to believe him ; especially as several more 

 were brought in at the same time by different persons. All of these that 

 I saw were in the adult plumage. 1 have had but two in the young 

 plumage. One was taken in July and one in August, both near 

 Toronto. 



25. Megascops asio.— As is well known, the Screech Owl is found 

 in two plumages, a red and a grey. These are said to have no 

 relation whatever to age or sex. Of those taken here about 90 per 

 cent, are in the grey plumage, and every one of the red ones that 

 have come into my hands was a female. In July, 1889, I received a 

 brood of this species. It contained three grey and one red young, 

 partly in the down, but showing clearly their colors ; the mother 

 was red. 



26. Bubo virginianus.— The farmers who occasionally bring in 

 the Great Horned Owl relate wonderful tales of the prowess of this 

 bird, and of the loss their poultry yards sustain at his claws. One 

 man credibly informs me that such is the courage and strength of this 

 bird that settlers in Muskoka have great difficulty in keeping a cat, 

 for these owls never iicsitate to attack the feline and soon succeed in 

 destroying it. 



On March 25, 1889, Mr, Jackson of Maple found a Horned Owl's nest 

 in a hole in a decayed tree, at a place eight miles north of Toronto. 

 Tlie nest was made oi' finely shredded strips of cedar and basswood 

 bark, and contained eggs on which the bird was sitting. 



27. Nyctea nyctea. — The Snowy Owl was very abundant here 

 in the winter of 188-1-5 ; since then it has been a rare winter visitant, 

 not more than three or four being seen each season till this winter. 

 In November, 1888, they came in great numbers and continued to 

 arrive during December. In January the last of them appeared. 

 About forty, as nearly as I can ascertain, were shot near Toronto this 

 year ; two of these were shot in the centre of the city. 



28. Surnia ulula caparoch. — Tlie Hawk Owl has always been rare 

 here. I can count on the fingers of one liand all that I have received in 

 fourteen years. I know of but four having been taken near Toronto, 

 one that I received from Thornhill, and three that are elsewhere 

 recorded by Mr. Thompson. 



For Asio accipitrinus in flock see Proc. Orn. Sub-s. 1889, p. 20, 

 par. 134. 



