GREAT GRAY OWL. 65 
sionally seen in Massachusetts in the depth of severe winters. 
One was caught perched on a wood-pile, in a state of listless 
inactivity, in the morning after daylight, at Marblehead, in 
February, 1831. This individual survived for several months, 
and showed a great partiality for fish and birds. At times he 
uttered a tremulous cry or Ad 4d hé hd hoo, not very dissimilar 
to that of the Mottled Owl. At Hudson’s Bay and Labrador 
these Owls reside the whole year, and were found in the Ore- 
gon territory by Mr. Townsend. They associate in pairs, fly 
very low, and feed on mice and hares, which they seize with 
such muscular vigor as sometimes to sink into the snow after 
them a foot deep. With ease they are able to carry off the 
alpine hare alive in their talons. In Europe the species ap- 
pears wholly confined to the desert regions of Lapland, two or 
three stragglers being all that have been obtained out of that 
country by naturalists. 
Dr. Richardson says that it is by no means a rare bird in the 
fur countries, being an inhabitant of all the woody districts 
lying between Lake Superior and latitudes 67° or 68° and 
between Hudson’s Bay and the Pacific. It is common on 
the borders of Great Bear Lake ; and there, and in the higher 
parallels of latitude, it must pursue its prey, during the summer 
months, by daylight. It keeps, however, within the woods, and 
does not frequent the barren grounds, like the Snowy Owl, nor 
is it so often met with in broad daylight as the Hawk Owl, but 
hunts principally when the sun is low, — indeed, it is only at such 
times, when the recesses of the woods are deeply shadowed, 
that the American hare and the marine animals on which the 
Cinereous Owl chiefly preys, come forth to feed. On the 23d 
of May I discovered a nest of this Owl, built on the top of a 
lofty balsam poplar, of sticks, and lined with feathers. It con- 
tained three young, which were covered with a whitish down. 
The capture in New England of several examples of this species 
has been recorded. During the winter of 1889-90, a number were 
seen along the northern border of these States and in the southern 
portions of Canada. Mr. Mcllwraith reported that a large number 
had been taken near Hamilton. 
VOL. I. — 5 
