LIST OF BIRDS 423 



and Mr. Gregoire Labrie killed one May 31st, 1880. These are 

 the latest dates at which they have been seen in this region. 

 (Still the latest record. N.A.C.) 



63. Surnia funerea. HAWK OWL. Common in winter, gener- 

 ally appearing in November and not remaining later than Febru- 

 ary. (Shot March 18th, 1904. N.A.C.) 



64. Nyctala tengmalmi Bichardsoni. RICHARDSON'S OWL. A 

 common winter resident and very tame. This owl has a low 

 liquid note that resembles the sound produced by water slow- 

 ly dropping from a height, hence the Montagnais Indians called 

 it pillip-pile tshish, which means "water-dripping bird. These 

 Indians have a legend that this was at one time the largest owl 

 in the world and that it had a very loud voice. It one day 

 perched itself near a large water-fall and tried not only to imi- 

 tate the sound of the fall, but also to drown the roaring of the 

 torrent in its own voice. At this the great Spirit was offended 

 and transformed it into a pigmy, causing its voice to resemble 

 slowly dripping water instead of the mighty roar of a cataract. 



65. Nyctala acadica. SAW-WHET OWL. Not very common. In 

 winter Mr. Comeau once saw one of these little owls fly out from 

 within the carcass of a great Northern hare that had been 

 caught in a snare. The owl had eaten away the abdomen and 

 was at work within the thoracic cavity when frightened away. 

 (Shot March 14th, 1902.) 



66. Circus cyaneus hudsonius. MARSH HARRIER. A tolerably 

 common summer resident. Three individuals seen as early as 

 May 5th, 1882. (Oct. 19th, 1887. Breeds. N.A.C.) 



67. Astur atricapillus. GOSHAWK. Not rare. Breeds. Nov. 

 24th, 1883. N.A.C.) 



68. Falco sacer obsoletus. LABRADOR GYRPALCON. Mr. Oomeau 

 has killed several of these rare falcons in the vicinity of God- 

 bout. (Jan. 10th, 1885. Nov. bth, 1892. N.A.C.) 



69. Falco columbarius. PIGEON HAWK. Not rare and doubt- 

 less breeds. (May 2nd, 1884, May 21st, 1889. N.A.C.) 



70. Falco sparverius. SPARROW HAWK. Rare. One shot May 

 5th, 1882. (Tolerably common, breeds. N.A.C.) 



71. Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis. ROUGH-LEGGED BUZ- 

 ZARD. Breeds and is rather common. The southward migration 

 commences about the last of September and continues into No- 

 vember. During this period large numbers of these hawks are 

 constantly passing over this part of the coast on the way to 



