Bird Life of Noirtii Dakota 45 



informed that the species is not rare. A wing was found in possession of an Indian 



who used it as a fan. CouES, 1893, p. 272; April 14, Lewis and Clark record the 



killing of a large hooting owl. CouES, 1897, p. 97; Audubon says he shot a great 

 horned owl near Fort Union. 



The Williams Collection contains three forms of homed owls; one of 

 these, which I have referred to this species, was dark, marked with yellow 

 and rufous, like our Michigan birds. It was taken at Grafton, November 

 10, 1903. Another typical specimen was also collected at Grafton, Novem- 

 ber I, 1903. Mr. Eastgate records one from Larimore, January, 1906. 



144. Bubo virginianus pallesccns Stone. Western Horned Owl. 



JuDD, 1917, p. ig; common resident of Turtle Mountains, where it breeds. Nests 

 were found with eggs in February and March. 



This is the most common form found in North Dakota. I saw several 

 mounted specimens in the state collections. On May 28, 1921, I found a 

 nest in a big willow tree at the edge of Fort Totten Lake in Sully Hill 

 National Park near Fort Totten. It contained three downy young nearly 

 half grown. These were brought to me at the Biological Station on June 

 II by the keeper of the park, Mr. Triska, who told me that the parents 

 were catching the tame ducks in the park pond, so he shot the female, but 

 it escaped. The largest one of the young is in the North Dakota Biological 

 Station Museum. It was well grown, with tail and wing feathers about half 

 length. The two smaller ones are in the Museum of Zoology Collection. 

 The species probably destroys not only a considerable amount of poultry 

 and game birds but also numbers of small mammals. 



145. Bnho virginianus siiharcticus Hoy. Arctic Horned Owl. 

 RiDGWAY, 1 014, p. 7=; I ; one from Devils Lake. North Dakota. 



This form is supposed to be only a winter visitant in North Dakota, but 

 Mr. Williams, in whose collection are some fine specimens, says that it 

 breeds at Grafton. A fall record was December 3, 1903. 



146. Nyciea nyctca (Linnaeus). Snowy Owl. 



Deane, 1907, pp. 218-219; Mr. J. D. Allen, of Mandan, writes on March 11, 1907: 

 "The snowy owls have not been as abundant this winter as last, when I had thirty 

 sent to me. Some years ago I secured over 500 specimens and the following year 

 over 350." Larson, 1913, p. 94; only one seen in McKenzie County in winter of 1912- 

 1913. JuDD. 1917, p. 19; common winter resident and migrant. Seen here from Octo- 

 ber to May. One seen at Rock Lake, July, 1910. 



This species seems to be common in collections. Mr. Williams had a 

 dozen or more, two of which were practically pure white. At the Williams 

 shop seventy-five of these birds were mounted in one winter. A pair in 

 the flesh was received at the Musetun of Zoology, December 24, 1921, sent 

 from Grafton by H. V. Williams. On account of their great numbers and 

 destructive food habits they are, with the horned owl, a great menace to the 

 game birds and mammals of the state. However, at some seasons of the 

 year they destroy mice, gophers and other injurious mammals. 



