42 XOUTII AMKinCAN ItlRDS. 



the winter of lH^^'^, mid lucntions two otlier specimens, also taken within 

 the limits of the Stiite. It is not mentioned Iiy l)r. Cooper as anumg tlie 

 birds oi' ralil'ornia. 



.Specimens of tiiis Owl were taken at Vort Sini]ison in May, and at Fort 

 Kesolntion hy Mr. 15. I!, llos.s, at liij- Island liy Mr. .1. K'eid, at Fort llae by 

 Mr. L. Clarke, and at Fort Yukon by Mr. J. Loekhart and Mr. J. McDougall, 

 and at Selkirk Settlement, in February and March, liy Mr. Donald (Junn. 



^Ir. 1). I». J»o,ss states that thoiiuh no specimens of this Owl were received 

 from north of Fort SimjKson, yet he is cpiite certain that it raniLjos to the 

 Arctic Circle, lie savs it is a lierce l)ird, aiul creates yreat havoc amony; the 

 flocks of Linnets and other small liirds. Its nest is built on trees, and the 

 ejigs are three or four in number, of a pure white color and nearly roumi 

 shape. It sometimes seizes on the deserted hole of a "\Voo(lp((cker for a 

 habitation. 



Mr. Dall obtained a female specimen of this Owl at Xulato, April 28, 

 where it was not uncommon. It was often heard crying in the eveninjj;s, 

 almost like a human being, and was (pwte fearless. It could be readily 

 taken in the hand without its making any attemjit to fly away, but it had 

 a habit of biting viciously. It was freciuently seen in the daytime sitting 

 on trees. According to the Imlians, it genei'ally nests in holes in dead 

 trees, and lays six s])herical white eggs. Iiichardson inibrms us that it 

 inhal)its all the wooded country from (ireat Slave Lake to the United 

 States, and is very connnon on the banks of the Saskatchewan. It was 

 obtained in Canada by the Countess of Dalhousie, but at what season the 

 bird was met with is not stated ; the Smithsonian Institution also pos- 

 sesses specimens from the vicinity of Montreal. It prolialily does not breed 

 so far south as that place, or, if so, very rarely. Mr. Auduljon jirocured 

 a specimen near Bangor, Maine, in Se])tember, the only one he ever met 

 with. 



This Owl, according to Mr. Ilutchins, builds a nest of grass half-way up 

 a i)ine-tree, and lays two eggs in the month of May. 



A di'awing, taken by Mr. Audubon from a specimen in an English cabinet, 

 rejm'sents a nearly s]»herical egg, the color of which is white with a slight 

 tinge of yellowish, and which measures I.IS inches in length by one inch in 

 breadth. 



The only authenticated eggs of this variety which have come under my 

 notice are three collected at Iu)rt Simpson, May 4, 18G1, by B. E. Eoss. 

 One of these measures 1.28 by 1.06 inches. 



