Birds of Massachusetts. 85 
quired till after a certain age. He has shot many 
which were of an uniform light brown; these he 
fornerly thought were of a different species; but 
now he considers them the young of the snowy owl. 
This bird is said to breed in the northern parts of 
the state of Maine, but there is, as yet, no sure au- 
thority for the assertion. Their nests are not found 
in Labrador nor Newfoundland ; probably they are 
to be sought for in the highest latitudes, since the 
snowy owl comes to us like a herald of the in 
storms, and spends the rest of the year in his Arctic 
home. 5 
The Rep Own, Strix asio, is a permanent resident, 
and rears its young in Massachusetts; appearing 
more common in winter, not because it migrated in 
the milder season, but, its supplies in the forest 
failing, it comes to barns and houses in search of 
food. During the day, it finds shelter in unfrequent- 
ed places, and when seen, appears drowsy and list- 
less, as if more than half asleep. It has good reason 
for preferring solitude at such times ; for the smaller 
birds, which it persecutes by night, know that they 
have the advantage by day, and do not scruple to © 
follow up their revenge. Sometimes they proceed | 
from words to blows, and the owl, having the worst 
of the battle, is compelled to seek safety in a random 
flight. It is known by the name of the little 
screech owl, from the ery which it makes in the 
early part of the night. 
In connexion with the history of this bird, Audu- 
bon asks the question, why it is that the owls 
