Nov., 1900] BIRDvS OF THE KOTZEBUE SOUND REGION. 39 



Nye tea nyetca (Linn.). 

 Snowy Owl. 



I found the Snowy Owl unexpectedly scarce in the regions visited. At our 

 first landing a few miles northeast of Cape Prince of Wales, June 27th, I saw a 

 single individual flying over the tundra. It was pursued by a noisj' mob of Arctic 

 Terns, and a couple of jaegers gave chase for a short distance. Another was seen 

 perched on a jagged point of ice on a floe several miles from shore, June 29th, and 

 still anotheron the coast near Cape Lowenstern on July ist. A very few were seen 

 in Jul}'- among the low hills back of Cape Blossom. In each case as they were 

 flushed from the ground they were attacked by curlew, and once by some Short- 

 billed Gulls, with their shrieking war-cries. I was told by the natives that sometimes 

 the Snowy Owl has been very numerous along the coast. In the Kowak Valley 

 in the neighborhood of our winter quarters the Snow^y Owl was quite rare and 

 apparently only occurred during the migrations. One was seen perched on a 

 hummock on the tundra across the river on October 12th. And in the same 

 locality a single Snowy Owl was again seen several times from April 20th to May 

 ist, '99. 



Sinnia ulula caparoeh (Miill.). 

 American Hawk Owl. 



I first met with the Hawk Owl near the head of Hunt River in the foot-hills 

 of the Jade Mountains, about twenty miles north of our winter camp on the 

 Kowak. On the evening of September 15th two of these birds came very close 

 around our tent, making short flights from tree to tree. On the three succeeding 

 days several more were noted. They were more apt to be seen at dusk, but were 

 ■also observed at mid-day perched at the tops of spruces by the stream, or flying 

 across the canon high overhead. After returning to our winter camp, I saw two 

 Hawk Owls flying among the spruces around the cabin at dusk, and the next 

 evening, the 21st of September, I saw the last one for the season. The following 

 spring their arrival was noted on April loth. At this date they were already 

 paired, and a female secured contained large ova. On April 26th I located a pair 

 of Hawk Owls which by their restlessness indicated a nesting site near by. The 

 nest was finally found, but there were as yet no eggs. It was in the hollow end 

 of a leaning dead spruce stub about ten feet above the ground. The dry rotten - 

 wood chips in the bottom were modelled into a neatly-rounded depression. The 

 male bird was quite noisy, often repeating a far-reaching rolling trill. Both birds 

 frequently uttered a low whine, alternately answering one another. On May 8, 

 while snow-shoeing across the country toward the base of the Jade Mountains, r^y 

 attention was attracted b}- the distant trill of a Hawk Owl. After a half-hour's 

 search throu^^h a heavy stretch of timber, I located the bird perched at the top of 

 a tall live spruce, partly hidden by the foliage. Then I began an inspection of all 

 dead stubs and trees in the vicinity. I had given up hope of finding a nest and 

 had started on, when, by mere chance, I happened to catch sight of a hole in a 

 dead spruce fully 200 yards away. A close approach showed a sitting bird which 

 afterwards proved to be the male. Its tail was protruding at least two inches from 

 the hole, while the bird's head was turned .so that it was facing out over its back. 

 When I tapped on the tree the bird left the nest, flew ofi" about thirty yards, 



