Deane, Unusual Abundance of the Snowy Owl. 
TAuk 
LJuly 
2 74 
this winter extended further back from the coast than former 
records would show. Regarding their food, Capt. Spinney writes 
that they feed largely on small rodents. In November, 1897, one 
killed and ate one of his live decoy ducks, which at that time was 
close to the house. 
Mr. John A. Lord, taxidermist at Portland, Me., writing under 
date of February 14, 1902, informs me that he had received thirty 
specimens between November 21, 1901, and February 5, 1902, 
and knew of about ten others being killed in the vicinity. Ex- 
aminations of the stomachs showed about seventy-five per cent to 
be empty. Others contained mice, moles and shrews. 
Mr. Leander White, keeper of the Cape Elizabeth Light 
Station, Me., reports, under date of February 27, 1902, that several 
of these owls had been killed in his neighborhood, the first being 
seen about the 27th of January, 1902. 
Mr. J. Merton Swain writes under date of February 18, 1902, 
from Waterville, Me., that a great many Snowy Owls had been 
seen and the larger part were reported from the interior ; that 
eight had been seen in Waterville and Fairfield. Mr. Swain states 
they were first seen about the middle of January, though Mrs. 
Ft. B. Bates, of Waterville, Me., sends me a record of a specimen 
that was shot there on January 2, 1902. 
Prof. Leslie A. Lee of Brunswick, Me., writing under date of 
February 26, 1902, informs me that Mr. John Thompson, the 
local taxidermist, had reported the killing of five specimens within 
a few days of February 1, and another was also taken at North 
Anson, Me. on February 21, 1902. 
Mr. Arthur H. Norton of Westbrook, Me., in writing under 
date of February 24, 1902, and in referring to a few specimens 
which came to hand, states that two adults shot at Westbrook 
were extremely fat but their stomachs were entirely empty. One 
bird weighed four and a half pounds, the other one ounce less; 
and that a large dark female shot on January 31, 1902, also very 
fat, contained two Microtus pennsylvanicus , swallowed whole ; a 
very light colored male, shot at Gorham, Me., on February 7, was 
extremely fat. This owl had only a small quantity of mouse hair 
in its stomach. 
Mr. Frederick A. Shaw of Portland, Me., under date of Feb- 
