116 LITTLE NIGHT OWL. 



and shot. It proved to be a fine old female, the plumage of which was 

 almost pure white. I have heard of individuals having been seen as far 

 down the Mississippi as the town of Memphis. Some Indians assured me 

 that they had shot one at the mouth of the Red River; and, while on the 

 Arkansas River, I was frequently told of a large White Owl that had been 

 seen there during winter. 



So much has been said to me of its breeding in the northern parts of the 

 State of Maine, that this may possibly be correct. In Nova Scotia they are 

 abundant at the approach of winter; and Professor MacCulloch, of the Uni- 

 versity of Pictou, shewed me several beautiful specimens in his fine collec- 

 tion of North American Birds. Of its place and mode of breeding I know 

 nothing; for, although every person to whom I spoke of this bird while in 

 Labrador knew it, my party saw none there; and in Newfoundland we were 

 equally unsuccessful in our search. 



Strix nyctea, Linn. Syst. Nat., vol. i. p. 132. — Lath., Index Ornith., vol. i. p. 57. — 

 Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. of Birds of the United States, p. 36. — Swains, and Richards. 

 Fauna Bor. Americ, vol. i. p. 88. 



Snowy Owl, Strix nyctea, Wils. Arner. Orn., vol. iv. p. 53, pi. xxxii. fig. 1. — Nutt. Man., 

 vol. i. p. 116. 



Male and Female. 



Tail rather long, moderately rounded; plumage white; head and back 

 spotted; wings, tail, and lower parts barred with dusky brown. Young pure 

 white. Individuals vary much in markings. 



Male, 21, 53. Female, 26, 65. 



LITTLE NIGHT OWL. 



StritNiA passerina, Linn. 



PLATE XXIX. 



The specimen from which my drawing of this bird was taken, was pro- 

 cured near Pictou in Nova Scotia, by my young friend Thomas M'Culloch, 

 Esq., who assured me that it is not very uncommon there. How far south- 

 ward it may proceed in winter I have not been able to ascertain; nor have I 

 ever met with it in any part of the United States. It is also said to be abun- 

 dant in Newfoundland, and not rare in Labrador. My specimen is a female, 

 and was shot in winter. 



