32 NATURE IN ACADIE. 



on Grand Manan and other islands in the Bay of Fundy) 

 and from thence northward to Greenland. It retires 

 southward in winter, as far as Massachusetts, but 

 appears to remain on some parts of the Nova Scotian 

 coasts throughout the winter. 



Up to December 15 the weather was generally 

 fine and very mild indeed, except for sharp frosts at 

 night during the previous week, but on the night of 

 this day snow fell, and lay about two inches deep in 

 the morning, although it disappeared during the day 

 in consequence of the temperature changing and rain 

 falling rather heavily. 



On the 21st I noticed that the " rabbits " were nearly 

 white ; it is curious how quickly after the first fall of 

 snow they seem to assume their winter dress. 



Owls appear to be common in Nova Scotia about 

 this time of the year. On this day I noticed about 

 the town, and in the taxidermists' shops, both dead 

 and living specimens of the great horned, snowy, 

 and barred owls, all which had been taken in the 

 province. I also saw a fine stuffed specimen of the 

 great grey, or cinereous wood owl, a huge species, 

 exceeding in size both the great horned and snowy 

 owls, and even its near relative, the great Lapp owl 

 of Northern Europe. In common with almost all 

 Arctic birds, it is somewhat soberly attired, the plum- 

 age being mottled and barred with white, brown and 

 grey. This individual had no doubt been taken within 

 the limits of Nova Scotia, as the species even occurs 

 within the boundary of the United States during the 

 winter. The summer home of this great owl is in 

 Arctic America. Dr. Richardson met with it commonly 

 on the borders of Great Bear Lake, and records that it 

 keeps constantly in the woods, hunting hares and other 

 smaller quadrupeds. 



On the 27th I revisited the woods in the neighbour- 

 hood of Melville Island. There were not many birds 

 about, but I observed some few brown creepers, which 

 little bird remains in Nova Scotia throughout the 

 year, as its Old World brother does in England, 



