542 THE BIRDS OF MANITOBA THOMPSON. 



127. Nyctala tengmalmi richardsoni. Kicbardson's Owl. 



In the wooded sectious probably resident. Wiunipeg: Winter visitant; 

 tolerably common; probably resident (Hine). Selkirk Settlement in 

 February and March (D. Gunn). Two Kivers: On February 7, 1885, 

 shot a pair of Richardson's Owls (Criddle). 



On June 11, 1883, at the spruce bush I found the remains of a speci- 

 men of Richardson's Owl. This was shot in the spring by one of the 

 mill hands and left where it fell. 



February, 1885, Toronto: While at Winnipeg last month Mr. Hine 

 showed me several dozen specimens of this bird, all taken near the city 

 within three months. 



128. Nyctala acadica. Saw- whet Owl. 



Rare, resident. Noted only on Red River: Rare; probably resident; 

 only two seen at Winnipeg up to 1884 (Hine). RedRiver Valley : Resi- 

 dent (Hunter). 



Sbipo nie shisli : Small Owl. This is the smallest owl iu Hudsoa Bay nearly, 

 correspoufllug to the small owl of Peuuant. It weighs 4^ onuces, the length 8J 

 inches, the breadth 20, irides bright yellow ; feet and legs feathered, and talons black. 

 * * * It lives among the piues iu all seasons, feeding on mice ; only builds a nest 

 of grass half way np a itiue tree in the mouth of May, lays two white eggs, and the 

 young fly in the begiuuiug of July. They are not plenty and are the most solitary 

 bird I ever knew, seldom moviug in the daytime, but a brisk mouser by night. They 

 never change color. It is common for tbe ludiau children to steal toward them in 

 the daytime and seize tbem. (Hutchius MSS., Observations on Hudson Bay, 1782.) 



Mr. Hunter claims the Screech Owl {Mer/ascops asio) for Manitoba, say- 

 ing: " I saw a pair at Saboskong Bay, Lake of the Woods, and in 1871 

 heard them at Point du Cheue." 



129. Bubo virginianus subarcticus. Western Horned Owl. 



Common resident wherever there is timber. This form of Bubo is 

 lighter iti color than the true Bubo virginianus subarcticus. It is proba- 

 bly just intermediate between that form and var. arcticus. Pembina: 

 Breeding (Coues). Winnipeg: Common resident throughout the year 

 (Hine). Red River Valley: Permanent resident; more seen in winter 

 (Hunter). Swampy Island: 1885; common resident; breeds near here 

 (Pluukett). Observed breeding (Wagner). Portage la Prairie: Com- 

 mon resident but somewhat migratory (Nash). Carberry: Common 

 resident; breeding; Rat Portage ; Duck Mountain ; Assissipi (Thomp- 

 son). Two Rivers, November 12, 1885 (Criddle). Shell River: 1885; 

 winter visitant (Calcutt). FortEUise: October, 1880 (Macoun), White 

 Sand River: May 5,1887; nesting (Christy). Qii'Appelle: Occasional; 

 not common (Guernsey). 



September 18, 1884, Portage la Prairie : Mr. C. W. Nash gives me a 

 very interesting note on a pair of Horned Owls that had nested in the 

 woods here, and from the indications observed there seems little 



