Merriam on Bn-ds about Poi?it dc Mo/its, Canada. 237 



57. Colaptes auratus. Golden-winged Woodpecker. A tolerably 

 common summer resident. First seen May 14, 1S82. 



58. Bubo virginianus. Great Horned Owl. — A rather common 

 resident. 



59. Asio wilsonianus. Long-eared Owl. — Rare. Mr. Comeau 

 shot three in May, 1877 "'" 187S. 



60. Asio accipitrinus. Short-eaked Owl.— A rather rare summer 

 resident. Earliest seen May 9, 18S2. 



61. Strix nebiilosa. Barred Owl. — A tolerably common resident. 



62. Nyctea scaiidiaca. Snowy Owl. — Very irregular in appear- 

 ance; sometimes very abundant in winter, and sometimes not seen for 

 several years. Mr. Comeau shot one May 17, 1882, and Mr. Gregoire 

 Labrie killed one May 31, 18S0. These are the latest dates at which 

 they have been seen in this section. 



63. Surnia funerea. Hawk Owl. — Common in winter, generally 

 appearing in November and not remaining later than February. 



64. Nyctala tengmalmi richardsoni. Richardson's Owl. — A com- 

 mon winter resident, and very tame. This Owl has a low liquid note that 

 resembles the sound produced by water slowly dropping from a height; 

 hence the Montagne Indians call it fillip-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 waterfall and tried not only to imitate 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 pygmy, 

 causing its voice to resemble slowly dripping water instead of the mighty 

 roar of a cataract. 



65. Nyctala acadica. Saw-wiiet 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 tlie thoracic 

 cavity when frightened away. 



66. Circus cyaneus hudsonius. Marsh Harrier. — A tolerably 

 common summer resident. Three individuals were seen as early as May 

 5, 1SS2. 



67. Astur atricapillus. Goshawk. — Not rare. 



68. Falco sacer obsoletus. Labrador Gyrfalcon. — Mr. Comeau 

 has killed several of these rare Falcons in the vicinity of Godbout. 



69. Falco colunabarius. Pigeon Hawk. — Not rare, and doubtless 

 breeds. 



70. Falco sparverius. Sparrow IL\wk. — Rare. One shot May 5, 

 18S2. 



71. Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis. Rough-legged Buzzard. 

 — Breeds, and is rather common. The southward migration commences 

 about the last of September and continues into November. During this 

 period large numbers of these Hawks are constantly passing over this part 

 of the coast on the wav to their winter quarters. 



