128 SPARROW OWL— RICHARDSON'S OWL. 



inhabit alike both continents. For when we come to inquire into 

 the distinctive marks which characterize such varieties, we find 

 these to consist in most cases of httle more than a difference in 

 the intensity of coloring ; and even this does not appear to be 

 constant in the individuals composing either race. For instance, 

 in the case of the Hawk Owl, 6". ulula var. Hudsonia, which is 

 likewise separated into a European and American race, it has 

 only recently been discovered that it is the American type and 

 not the European which inhabits Great Britain. 



The American Sparrow Owl only differs from the Tenginabai 

 of Europe in being occasionally darker colored, the habits of both 

 birds, and indeed all other specific details, being unquestionably 

 the same. It is strictly a northern species, ranging with the Hawk 

 and Snowy Owls to, and probably beyond, the highest latitude 

 yet reached by travellers, but stopping far short of these birds in 

 its extension to the southward. It has been met with in Maine, 

 Massachusetts, and Connecticut ; but in this last State rarely. I 

 can find no record of it in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, and think 

 it probable that beyond Massachusetts its occurrence is rare and 

 fortuitous. Boardmafi gives it as resident in Maine ; and Downs 

 as common in Newfoundland. In Canada it is pretty universally 

 diffused as far west as Hamilton, Ontario, where, however, it is 

 said by Mcllwraith to be a rare winter visitor. Mr. Wm. Couper, 

 naturalist, informs me it is particularly abundant to the northward 

 of the city of Quebec, in fact more so than in any other part of 

 Canada ; and I have myself met with it in the vicinity of Montreal 

 every winter for a number ot years. This winter (1876) there 

 have been an unusual number of occurrences of this species as 

 well as of several other usually rare Owls about Montreal. Dr. 

 Bernard Gilpin writing from Halifax, N.S., says that the Sparrow 

 Owl is a rare winter visitor in that Province ; but as its habits 

 are very retiring and strictly nocturnal, it is possible that though 

 but few are seen the bird may be tolerably abundant. Ac- 

 cording to Richardson this Owl is very abundant in the region 

 of the Saskatchewan, and its plaintiff cry may be heard throughout 

 the night from every quarter. The Cree Indians call it the 



