QQ THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. 



123. Dusky Horned Owl. B. virgininnus saturatus. 



Ridgway. 



" Winter Visitant," rare. I purchased a fine 

 specimen of this owl February 8, 1892, in the 

 Bonsecours market for one dollar, and enquiring of 

 the vendor about it, he said it was shot February 

 4 at Boucherville by a " habitant." It weighed 4J 

 Ibs. I never saw such a dark-colored horned owl 

 here before It has no ochraceous or tawny colour 

 in the plumage. The skin is in my collection. 



Genus Nyctea. Stephens. 



124. Snowy Owl (White Owl.) K nyctca. (Linn f 



" Winter Visitant," common. Some years this 

 owl is scarce, and their visits to this latitude is 

 probably regulated by their food supply in their 

 extreme northern habitat. During the winter of 

 1891-92 I saw four or five females and two males 

 of this species hanging up in the Bonsecours mar- 

 ket for sale, the first of which was shot in the 

 vicinity of Montreal in the month of December, and 

 the last one about March '5. I purchased a female 

 snowy owl there February 16, 1892, and an almost 

 pure white male specimen the same month, on the 

 20th, for fifty cents each for my collection of skins. 

 Some people have an idea that owls can't see during 

 daylight, but they would soon be undeceived if 



