123 



376. Nycteanyctea (Linn.). [406.] Snowy Owl. 



A great wanderer in winter, visiting the United States, and appear- 

 ing without any regularity in all of the northern tier of States, and 

 southward into Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois, and has been taken even 

 in Texas. It seems to have been less common than usual in the winter 

 of 1883-'84, though Mr. Lindley, at Mitchell, Iowa, had the good fortune 

 to see nine. At Linwood, Nebr., the last seen in 1884 was noted Feb- 

 ruary 1, but at Heron Lake, Minn., one was seen as late as April 3. The 

 winter of 1876-77 was noted for the great numbers of Snowy Owls 

 which migrated into the United States. They came November 22, 1876, 

 and for two weeks afterwards were common as far south as Saint Louis. 

 At Omaha and Denver they were specially abundant. One taxidermist 

 in the East had thirty Snowy Owls sent him from this single flight. 



In the spring of 1885 a Snowy Owl was seen at Clinton, Wis., Feb- 

 ruary 23, and at Huron, Dak., March 7. In the fall of 1885 the first 

 came to Elk Eiver, Minn., October 23. At Chicago. 111., one was seen in 

 the city November 3. A magnificent specimen, almost pure white, was 

 shot at Chrismau, 111., the latter part of January, 1886. 



377a. Surnia ulula caparoch (Mull.). [407.] Hawk Owl. 



The Hawk Owl visits the upper Mississippi Yalley in winter. It has 

 been taken in winter in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and once in northern 

 Illinois. Occasionally in severe winters it has been found in the East as 

 far south as Pennsylvania. It is therefore the more strange that one 

 should be found so far south as Mississippi. Dr. Rawlings Young, of 

 Corinth, Miss., writes: "In January, 1882, I was shooting quail over 

 a brace of setters in a thick sedge grass 300 or 400 yards from the 

 timber, and while working up a scattered bevy the dogs pointed. 

 Walking in, a Hawk Owl, much to my astonishment, got up from the 

 grass right under the dogs' noses. As he went off I cut him down, and 

 had no trouble in identifying him from the cuts seen in Wilson." 



In the fall of 1884 a Hawk Owl was reported from Elk River, Minn., 

 October 27. At Mount Carmel, Mo., the first was seen December 26. 

 In January, 1885, about a dozen were reported as wintering at Elk 

 River, Minn. In the spriug of 1885, at Mount Carmel, Mo., the last was 

 seen March 10. In the fall of 1885 the first returned to Elk River, Minn., 

 October 23. 



378. Speotyto cunicularia hypogaea (Bouap.). [408.] Burrowing Owl. 



Wherever prairie dogs exist Burrowing Owls are also very likely to 

 be found, so that their range may be said to include most of the open 

 prairie ground west of the Mississippi river. They are especially 

 abundant in western Nebraska, middle and western Kansas, and In- 

 dian Territory ; and as I write from Red Rock, in that Territory, I can 

 look out on a dog town several miles in extent, in which the Burrowing 

 Owls are usually numerous. Even as far east as Waverly, Miss., Major 

 Young writes that they were formerly quite common, but have not been 



