2^4 Deane, Unusual Abu?/dance of tkc Snoziy Ozv/. Ftuly 



this winter extended further back from the coast than former 

 records would show. Regarding their food, Capt. Spinney writes 

 that tliey feed largely on small rodents. In November, 1897, one 

 killed and ate one of his live decoy ducks, which at that time was 

 close to the house. 



Mr. John A. Lord, taxidermist at Portland, Me., writing under 

 date of February 14, 1902, informs me that he had received thirty 

 specimens between November 21, 1901, and February 5, 1902. 

 and knew of about ten others being killed in the vicinity. Ex- 

 aminations of the stomachs showed about seventy-five per cent to 

 be empty. Others contained mice, moles and shrews. 



Mr. Leander White, keeper of the Cape Elizabeth Light 

 Station, Me., reports, under date of February 27, 1902, that several 

 of these owls had been killed in his neighborhood, the first being 

 seen about the 27th of January, 1902. 



Mr. J. Merton Swain writes under date of February 18, 1902, 

 from Waterville, Me., that a great many Snowy Owls had been 

 seen and the larger part Avere reported from the interior ; that 

 eight had been seen in Waterville and Fairfield. Mr. Swain states 

 they were first seen about the middle of January, though Mrs. 

 H. B. Bates, of Waterville, Me., sends me a record of a specimen 

 that was 'shot there on January 2, 1902. 



Prof. Leslie A. Lee of Brunswick, Me., writing under date of 

 February 26, 1902, informs me that Mr. John Thompson, the 

 local taxidermist, had reported the killing of five specimens within 

 a few days of February i, and another was also taken at North 

 Anson, Me. on February 21, 1902. 



Mr. Arthur H. Norton of Westbrook, Me., in writing under 

 date of February 24, 1902, and in referring to a few specimens 

 which came to hand, states that two adults shot at Westbrook 

 were extremely fat but their stomachs were entirely empty. One 

 bird weighed four and a half pounds, the other one ounce less; 

 and that a large dark female shot on January 31, 1902, also very 

 fat, contained two Microttis pen?isylvanicHS^ swallowed whole ; a 

 very light colored male, shot at Gorham, Me., on February 7, was 

 extremely fat. This owl had only a small quantity of mouse hair 

 in its stomach. 



Mr. Frederick A. Shaw of Portland, Me., under date of Feb- 



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