182 



THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Table showing the results of examinations of 1S7 stomachs of the Great Horned Owl 

 (Bnho virginianus) — Contitiued. 



SCMMAKT.— Of 127 stomachs examined, 31 contained poultry or gamebirds j 8, other birds : 13, mice ■ 

 65, other mammals ; 1, a scorpion; 1, flsh; 10 insects, and 17' were empty. ' 



SNOWY OWL. 



Nyctea nyctea. 



This large and liandsome Owl is circumpolar in its distribution, in- 

 habiting the arctic portions of the northern hemisphere in summer and 

 migrating south in winter. In North America it is rare west of the Eocky 

 Mountains and south of our northern border, but in the East it is 

 sometimes common as far south as the fortieth parallel, and as an acci- 

 dental visitor nearly reaches the southern border of the United States, 

 In Europe and Asia it extends south either regularly or accidentally to 

 the British Isles, Holland, Belgium, Grermany, southern Siberia, Tur- 

 kestan, and Afghanistan. 



It must not be understood that all or even any considerable portion 

 of these Owls migrate very far south of their arctic home, for the birds 

 which reach the United States or Southern Canada are but a small frac- 

 tion of those which pass the winter near the northern line of trees. Al- 

 though from some unknown cause, presumably the lack of food there 



