Nyctea nivea
MASS. (Middlesex Co.) [Middlesex County, Massachusetts]
1875.
(Dec. 11 [December 11, 1875]) and at the snap he turned his flight
and ere I could pull the other trigger
was nearly out of sight among the
pines; I fired but without effect,
and he went off high up over the
woods leaving now very much
disgusted. His flight was direct and
very easy, with alternate flappings
and sailings. After this beat over the 
farm for quail but without starting
anything. Got back in time for
dinner without having killed a
bird.  At 2 P.M. Danielson came up
and we drove over to Medford where
we put up the horse in a livery
stable and struck for the woods.
Found a very wild country behind 
the town but although we beat
over considerable ground we saw
only one grouse and that so wild
that it flushed both times entirely out
of range. Picked up a dead grouse
which somebody had shot, and 
which we found lying on its breast on 
the ice. Saw three Pinicola enucleator.
Nictea nivea [Nyctea nivea] has occurred in unusual
numbers this season. Goodale has had
8 specimens already. Brewster & Gilman
on Washington St. have a live specimen
in a cage in their window. It has all
the characteristic motions of the other
large owls; especially that peculiar sideway swaying of the head, is quite savage and snaps
its bill loudly when the cage is tapped
with the finger.