OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 191 



America, it has been found by Captain Blakiston and Mr. 

 Bernard Ross. Dr. Gundlach gives it an occasional resident 

 in Cuba ; Dresser as a winter resident in the tall reeds and 

 grasses in the vicinity of San Antonio ; and Dr. Newberrv in 

 the meadow-like prairies of Oregon and California in com- 

 pany with the Marsh Hawk, and, likewise, on the margins of 

 Lake Klamath and in Des Chutes Basin, associating with 

 Burrowing Owls. In the Suisun and Napa valleys of 

 California it abounds according to Dr. Heerman, and in 

 Washington Territory, during the autumnal and winter 

 months, according to Dr. Cooper* In the fur countries, Rich- 

 ardson says it arrives with the disappearance of the snow, and 

 retires in September. In Nova Scotia, it is said to be a rare 

 bird ; but among the islands in the Bay of Funcly, it is a quite 

 common breeder according to Elliott Cabot. In Western 

 Maine, Verrill encountered it, but in no other place. In 

 Eastern Massachusetts, it is a not uncommon breeder in 

 suitable localities by the sea-shore. It has been found in 

 Connecticut by Dr. W T ood, and in the Carolinas and Florida, 

 particularly in the last State, where it is quite common in 

 the marshes ; Mr. Macfarlane met with a number of nests in 

 the Anderson River country, and Mr. Dall on the Yukon 

 and at Nulato. In the winter of 1872-73, it was the common- 

 est species about Washington, D. C., according to Dr. 

 Cones. 



In Eastern Pennsylvania, it is less abundant than formerly, 

 and by no means as common as the Long-eared. Unlike 

 the latter, it prefers marshes and low meadow-grounds, where 

 it conceals itself during the day in the midst of long grasses, 

 or in clumps of reeds and sedges. Though having a pre- 

 dilection for such quarters, it does not necessarily restrict 

 itself to such retreats, but is not unfrequently found roosting 

 in small bushes, and, occasionally, in dense evergreens when 

 contiguous to meadows, etc. 



Owing to the scarcity of this Owl in this region, it is sel- 

 dom that a greater number than a pair is to be found together, 



