284 AGERSBORG 01/ Birds of Southeastern Dakota. [ July 



119. Colaptes auratus. Golden-shafted Flicker. — This bird's prin- 

 cipal food seems to be ants' eggs, which it adroitly extracts with its long 

 tongue from the holes in the ground. Var. hybridus is not rare, and last 

 spring I witnessed the courting of a true auratus and a hybridus; their 

 nest and progeny I sought for in vain. 



120. Aluco flammeus americanus. American Barn Owl. — Recorded 

 from the neighboring counties of Dakota and Dixon, in Nebraska, by 

 Professor Aughey. but has never been seen here by any one, so far as I can 

 ascertain. 



121. Bubo virginianus. Great Horned Owl. — Common resident; 

 breeds. Var. subarcticus visits us nearly every winter; var. arcticus only 

 accidentally ; two specimens shot. 



122. Scops asio. Screech Owl. — Resident ; not common. 



123. Asio americanus. Long-eared Owl. — Resident; breeds; rare. 



124. Asio accipitrinus. Short-eared Owl. — Common; resident; 

 breeds. The low bottom lands along the Missouri River seem specially 

 suited to the habits of this species. It breeds later than other Owls, with 

 the exception of the Burrowing Owl. 



125. Strix nebulosa. Barred Owl. — Common winter resident. Sin- 

 gle birds probably stay through the summer. 



126. Nyctea scandiaca. Snowy Owl. — Winter resident; in snowy 

 winters often abundant. 



127. Nyctale acadica. Saw-whet Owl. — Resident; very rare; breeds. 



128. Speotyto cunicularia hypogaea. Burrowing Owl. — Common 

 resident; breeds. The full complement of eggs is, as a rule, seven; 

 occasionally as many as nine may be found. In the winter as many as 

 twenty of these birds may be found nestling together in one hole. They 

 are always at such times abundantly supplied with food. I have found at 

 one time forty-three mice and several Shore Larks scattered' along the run 

 to their common apartment. They forage in fine weather and retreat to 

 their dirty adobes when cold weather threatens. 



129. Circus hudsonius. Marsh Hawk. — Common resident; breeds. 

 Of the many eggs taken I have found only four sets where thev were 

 marked with faint blotches. Five seems to be the full complement; only 

 twice have I found six. These Hawks are most abundant in spring, when 

 scores follow the Duck hunters to catch and devour the wounded water 

 birds. 



130. Nauclerus forficatus. Swallow-tailed Kite. — A few spend 

 the summer here. Have no doubt that they breed across the Missouri 

 River in Nebraska. 



131. Accipiter fuscus. Sharp-shinned Hawk. — Common summer 

 resident; breeds. 



132. Accipiter cooperi. Cooper's Hawk. — Rare; probably breeds. 



133. Astur atricapillus. American Goshawk. — Very rare in winter. 

 1^4. Hierofalco gyrfalco islandus. Iceland Gyrfalcon. — Acciden- 

 tal. Shot one during a blizzard, October 21, 18S0. 



