ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 9 
points of diversity, previously overlooked, have been detected, the 
rnost-irnportant being the much blacker tail of Eastern birds, and 
their decMedly shorter wing. 
Upon the whole, the two forms seem to constitute two very 
strongly marked geographical races, which may be distinguished as 
follows: — 
T. migratoriws. — Ving, 4.85-5.35 ; tail, 4.10-4.60 ; bill, from nos- 
tril, .48 -.51 ; tarsus, 'Kao - 1.35 ; middle toe, .85 -.92* Inner web of 
outer tail-feather with a distinct white terminal spot. Tail-feathers of 
adult male dusky black, wit.h slight edging of plumbeus. Habitat. 
Eastern region, including the whole of Alaska, Eastern Mexico, and the 
eastern border of the Missouri Plain's^ 
T. propinquus, Ridgw. (MSS.). — Wi^ig, 5.35-5.60; tail, 4.60 - 4.70; 
bill, from nostril, .50 -.55 ; tarsus, 1.30 - 1.35 ; middle toe, .90. Inner 
web of lateral tail-feather with merely a narrower terminal edging of white, 
or with no white whatever. Tail-feathers of adult male dusky slate, with- 
out distinct!}' paler edges. Habitat. Western region, including eastern 
base of Rocky Mountains. 
We find the character of blackish centres to the interscapulars in 
Eastern specimens to be too inconstant a feature to serve as a 
character. No specimens of the Western series are so marked, but 
many Eastern ones, otherwise typical, have no trace of these mark- 
ings. It is a well-known fact that the eggs of the Western Rohins 
average considerably larger in size than those of Eastern birds. 
UNUSUAL ABUNDANCE OF THE SNOWY OWL ( NYCTEA 
SCANUIACA) IN NEW ENGLAND. 
BY RUTHVEN DEANE. 
In a recent number of this Bulletin (Yol. I, p. 95), Mr. N. C. 
Brown gave some interesting notes respecting the variable abun- 
dance of birds at the same locality in different seasons. I do not 
think a more forcible illustration of his remarks can be cited than 
the recent great abundance of the Snowy Owl in New England. 
This bird is regarded as not a rare winter visitor to New England, 
* Eight specimens. 
