WT -Science and Arts, Vol. xliv (1843), p. 
510 NOTES ON SOME OF THE 
GREAT Gray Owr. Syrnium cinereum Bon. I mentioned 
the capture of several specimens in this state in my Cata- 
logue. Dr. Brewer has since informed me that about 1839 
he obtained two for Mr. Audubon that were shot near Bos- 
ton,—a fact which does not appear to have been previously 
recorded. There is also a specimen in the Museum of the 
Peabody Academy, taken in Salem, November 10th, 1866, 
by Mr. E. S. Waters. 
Great Hornep Owr. Bubo Virginianus Bon. There 
are three specimens of this species in the Museum of Com- 
parative Zoölogy, all from Eastern Massachusetts, that 
represent Mr. Cassin’s three varieties Bubo Virginianus 
Atlanticus, B. Virginianus Pacificus, and B. Virginianus 
Magellanicus. The first of these he supposed to be re- 
stricted to the Atlantic slope of North America, the second . 
to the Pacific slope, and the third to the extreme southern 
parts of this continent and to South America. Mr. Cassin 
remarks, "this-fine species is either subject to considerable 
variation in the color of its plumage, or there are several 
species, some of which have been named by naturalists, as 
cited above, in our synonymes."* The first of these alter- 
natives it seems to me is the true state of the case. 
Barn Own. Strix pratincola Bon. As already stated by 
me in the *Addenda" to Dr. Coues' "List of the Birds of 
New England," the first specimen of this species known to 
have been captured in this state was taken near Springfield, 
in May, 1868. Dr. Wood informs me that he has a spect- 
men in his cabinet that was shot "at Sachem's Head [Ct..]: 
October 28th, 1865." The capture of another at Stratford, 
Connecticut, is recorded by Mr. Linsley.t These three are 
all thus far known to me to have been taken in New England. 
YELLOW-BILLED Cuckoo. Coccygus Americanus Bon. 
No other of our birds seems to be so variable in numbers M 
a 


.* Report on N. American Birds, p. 50. 
_ | See “Catalogue of the Birds of Connecticut,” by Rev. J. H. Linsley, Am. Journ: 
Science 253. 


