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2^6 Xy^EXSV-, Unnsttal Abu7idance of the Siio-i'y Owl. fhllv 



Rhode Island. 



Mr, Harry A. Cash, of Providence, R. I., writes me under date 

 of February 20, 1902, that of the eighteen specimens sent to him 

 for mounting, the first was received on January 7, 1902, and the 

 last on February 10, 1902. Eleven were males and seven were 

 females. These specimens were all taken on the Rhode Island 

 coast, with the exception of two, these being collected at Mystic, 

 Conn., and Nantucket. The stomachs of eleven were empty, the 

 balance bearing evidence of dark flesh, probably of ducks and rats ; 

 in one stomach was an entire rat, two-thirds grown. One female 

 was shot on January 21, 1902, at Pawtucket, R. I., from a duck 

 shooter's stand, while pursuing a flock of ducks, and was killed 

 over the decoys. 



Mr. Simon Dodge, keeper Southeast Light Station, Block Island, 

 R. I., writes under date of March 4, 1902, that he had seen three 

 specimens of the Snowy Owl, which had been killed on the island 

 between January 25 and February 15. 



Connecticut. 



Mr. James H. Hill, New London, Ct., writes the following most 

 interesting letter, under date of March 18, 1902 : "Munnatawket 

 or Fisher's Island, Suffolk Co., New York, lying at the east end 

 of Long Island Sound, near the Connecticut shore, has had during 

 the past months of December, January and February, one of the 

 most noteworthy flights of Snowy Owls, no less than eighteen of 

 these arctic visitors having been seen and fifteen captured, three 

 alive and unhurt. Two of these lend an added interest to the 

 Bronx Park collection of Raptores, the third cut with his sharp 

 bill the ' gordian knot ' and the twine that held him captive, and 

 regained his liberty. The writer has been secretary of the Fisher's 

 Island Sportsman's Club for over fifteen years, and during that 

 period a few have been seen and captured, but never before have 

 they been so numerous and in such fine plumage. The island 

 seems to be particularly attractive to these snowy visitors, due no 

 doubt to the fact that the Fisher's Island preserves are well stocked 

 with game — pheasants, quail, English and Belgian hares, the hares. 



