132 ACADIAN OWL— SAW-WHET OWL— LITTLE OWL. 



Boardman as a Florida species. It, however, extends across the 

 continent from ocean to ocean ; consequently its habitat may be 

 given as the whole of the temperate parts of North America. 



Audubon found the Acadian Owl in Maryland, and describes 

 the eggs as being deposited in Crows' nests or holes in trees ; 

 these numbered from three to six ; were elliptical and white. 



Wilson says but little of the Acadian Owl, and my impression, 

 after reading his short description, is that he personally met with 

 but few individuals of this species. He describes it as the " Little 

 Owl " (Strix passerina, Linne), says it is met with as far north as 

 Nova Scotia, and even Hudson's Bay, that it is frequent in Russia, 

 and describes its nest, containing two white eggs, as constructed 

 half-way up a pine tree. His description of the bird is taken from 

 a single specimen — a female — shot at Great Egg Harbor, in New 

 Jersey. 



In Canada, however, where the Acadian Owl is particularly 

 abundant at all seasons of the year, we learn further particulars 

 concerning it, and are enabled to correct a number of mis-state- 

 ments made respecting it. The two individuals figured on the 

 accompanying Plate were selected as average representative speci- 

 mens of this Owl from out of twenty-five, all of which were taken 

 in Canada ; and had I required, I could have procured at least 

 as many more. A third individual, evidently an old bird, in 

 splendid typical plumage, was received after the above two were 

 photographed, and is figured on Plate XXIV along with the Great 

 Gray or Cinereous Owl. 



As illustrative of the .frequency of occurrence of the Acadian 

 Owl in Canada, I may give the following. Mr. Mcllwraith of 

 Hamilton writes me that he has had this Owl living and dead by 

 the dozen ; Mr. Passmore has taken numerous specimens in both 

 Toronto and Montreal ; the late Mr. Wm. Hunter, of the Montreal 

 Nat. Hist. Soc, had specimens from both Hamilton and Montreal ; 

 Mr. Wm. Couper, from Montreal and Quebec. Dr. Bernard 

 Gilpin says it is common around Halifax, N.S. ; and I have a 



