"""'jVIo'." J PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 545 



iiigs, which were U niile« Iroui the woods. After a nioiitli of this life, 

 during which he received uo food from me, I shot and found him, not 

 starving- as I expected, but fully as fat as his brother had been. 



My ample opportunities of fully observing these interesting birds in 

 captivity as well as in a state of freedom, and indeed all that I have 

 seen of them — their untamable ferocity, which is daily more apparent; 

 their magnilicent bearing; their objection to carrion, and strictly carniv- 

 orous tastes — would make uie rank these winged tigers among the most 

 pronounced and savage of the birds of prey. 



Natowokey oruis sen: Horued Owl. This elcgaut bird harbors in tlic woods, )ccd- 

 iug on mice, wild fowl, aud carrion. About the middle of March it builds a uest iu a 

 pine tree, with a few sticks laid across, aud lays two whitish eggs; the youug oues 

 take to the wing iu June. (Hutchius MSS., Observations on Hudson Bay, 1782.) 



Common resident; but I am satisfied this bird is somewhat migratory, as there is 

 always for sometime iu the fall a large increase iu their number ; at the approach of 

 winter they become less numerous. I noticed this every season. They are almost 

 abundant in October on the Red River, four or live being seen by me nearly every 

 day; after the cold weather set in the great nuijority of them disappeared. 



Tlicy vary much in plumage, ranging from very dark to extremely light-colored 

 specimens; two young birds I shot August 9, 1884, being the two palest I have ever 

 seen anywhere. Anotlier bird that was with these two appeared quite dark beside 

 them. (Nash, in MSS.) 



129a. Bubo virgiiiianus arcticns. Arctic Horned Owl. 



One shot near Duck Mountain iu the fall of 1883 (Thompson). Touch- 

 wood Hills : October, 1880 (Macoun). 



130. Nyctea nyctea. Suowy Owl, White Owl. 



Tolerably common winter visitant. Winnipeg : Winter visitor; toler- 

 ably common; arrives September 20, departs April 20 (Hine). Merely 

 a winter visitant in the districts to the west of Lake Winnipeg; a few 

 pass the summer near Lake Winnipeg, as occasional birds are seen 

 there in sprmg and fall (D. Gunn). Ossowa (Wagner). Portage la 

 Prairie: Regular winter visitor, appearing in varying numbers each 

 season (Nash). Carberry: Regular winter resident; Melbourne, Boggy 

 Ureek, Big Plain (Thompson). Brandon: February 22, and a female 

 on March 5 (Wood). Qu'Appelle: Have seen specimens, but not com- 

 mon (Guernsey). 



Wa-pa-cu-thu, or Spotted Owl. * * * This bird is an inhabitant of the woods; 

 makes a nest in the moss on dry ground. (lIutchinsMSS., Observations on Hudson 

 Bay, 1782.) 



During tbe winter of 1882-'83 they were very common. I saw some almost every 

 day ; two or three perfectly white ones amongst them. In the winter of 1883-'d4 they 

 were less numerous ; in (he winter 1884-'85 very few were seen ; the same in 1885-'8(i 

 as in the last three mentioned years; hares were extremely abundant in the north ; they 

 probably found sufficient food to maintain them there; arrives in October, departs in 

 February or early in March. (Nash, in MSS.) 

 Proc. N. M. 90 35 



