Vol. XXIII 

 1906 



Deaxe, Unusual Abundance of Snowy Owls. 287 



Mr. Alex. Calder, taxidermist, Winnipeg, Man., writes under 

 date of Dec. 15, 1905: "We have been receiving a large number of 

 Snowy Owls for the last two months. They are passing this way 

 in large numbers, and are still coming in. Most of them have 

 been shot within one hundred miles of Winnipeg, west and north- 

 west." Again under date of Dec. 23, 1905, he writes: "Regard- 

 ing the flight of Snowy Owls, we have had about one hundred sent 

 in to be mounted, and have refused to purchase a number. They 

 were never so plentiful. We are receiving letters every day from 

 people wanting information as to the cost of mounting, or value of 

 the owls shot." 



Maine. 



Mr. Walter Hinds, taxidermist, Portland, Me., writes under 

 date of Jan. 13, 1900, that he had received over fifty Snowy Owls 

 this season, five having been received at one time from Richmond 

 Island, off Cape Elizabeth, Me. (the Richmond Island record 

 was given in 'The Auk' for Jan. 1900, p. 100), but the majority 

 were killed along the coast between Portland and Harpswell, Me. 

 A few were sent from Ashland, Fort Kent, and Masardis, in 

 Aroostook Co., Me. One specimen examined contained the re- 

 mains of fish. 



Mr. Frank L. Colton, keeper of Petit Manan Light Station, Me., 

 under date of Jan. 22, 1900, writes that the Snowy Owls were first 

 seen this season about Nov. 15, 1905. During the first week seven 

 were observed scattered over the island. After that date they 

 were usually seen in pairs up to Dec. 17, 1905. About twenty-five 

 were seen in all, nine of which were shot and sent to be mounted. 



Mr. Wm. F. Stanley, keeper of the Great Duck Island Light 

 Station, Me., writes me under date of Jan. 5, 1900, that there had 

 been a number of Snowy Owls the present winter on the island. 

 He did not, however, inform me how they compared in numbers to 

 previous seasons when they were abundant. Mr. S. L. Crosby, 

 taxidermist, Bangor, Me., writing under date of Jan. 5, 1900, states 

 that tire present flight seemed to be over, as he had not received any 

 Snowy Owls for a week. About forty-five had been received, 

 mostly from the seacoast and in the vicinity of Petit Manan, a 



