Jan., 1909. Birds, OF Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 497 



1 8 la. Bubo virginianus subarcticus (Hoy). 

 Arctic Horned Oavl. 



Distr.: Interior of northern British America, Hudson Bay to the 

 Mackensie River region, south to the northern United States in 

 winter. 



This northern form differs from our common species, B. virginia- 

 nus, in being much paler, the general coloration more gray and white, 

 with decidedly less brownish or ochraceous buff. 



It must be considered as merely an accidental straggler in Illinois 

 and a rare winter visitant in Wisconsin. 



Nelson includes it in his Birds of N. E. Illinois as a rare winter 

 visitant and says: "Have a fine specimen in my collection taken the 

 last of December, 1874. It was given by Dr. Hoy as having been 

 taken at Racine, Wisconsin." Kumlien and Hollister state: 

 "Taken by Hoy at Racine and by Kumlien at Lake Koshkonong, 

 both at an early day, a fine specimen preserved in the Milwaukee 

 Public Museum was procured at Ashland, January, 1886." 



It is not improbable that the Western Horned Owl, B. v. palles- 

 cens, may occur within our limits, as it has been recorded from North 

 Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. It is darker than virginianus a^nd the 

 under parts are more heavily barred. 



There has been more or less confusion as to name of this sub- 

 species. Swainson's name arcticus, as has been shown by Dr. Rich- 

 mond, is' preoccupied and untenable and he has revived subarcticus 

 of Hoy for the northern form. 



Genus NYCTEA Stephens. 



182. Nyctea nyctea (Linn.). 

 Snowy Owl. 



Distr.: Arctic regions; south in winter in North America to mid- 

 dle states; accidental as far south as Carolina, Texas, and California; 

 breeds north of the United States. 



Adult: Varying from pure white to white, spotted and barred 

 with grayish brown or dusky; no ear tufts; feet, thickly feathered; 

 bill, black; iris, yellow. Pure white specimens are rare. 



Length, about 24; wing, 16 to 17.50; tail, about 9.50. 



The Snowy Owl is a winter visitant, varying in numbers in differ- 

 ent years; at times not uncommon. 



Mr. E. W. Nelson gives the Snowy Owl as a regular winter resident 



