Flight of Horned Owls in Canada.— The article by Mr. Arthur W. 
Brockway in ‘ The Auk ’ (Vol. XXXV, No. 3) upon the ‘ Large Flight of 
Great Horned Owls and Goshawks at Wadlyme, Connecticut ’ has prompted 
me to revert to the subject in connection with the phenonenon here. Any 
occurrence of this nature is particularly interesting and especially so among 
the Raptores of the North. 
His information regarding the early November flight in Canada is per- 
fectly correct; vast numbers having appeared at that time throughout the 
country. Mr. C. W. Nash, of the Provincial Museum, Toronto, informed 
me that hundreds of Great Horned Owls were noted in that region and in 
every locality that I have visited the same news of excessive numbers of 
these birds has reached me. 
During the latter part of October, 1917, and the fore part of November 
I was in the wilderness northeast of Lake Superior. During my entire 
time there, I never once heard an owl, although they are frequently heard 
in wilderness camping. I remarked on the apparent absence of the species 
at the time, and often sat alone on the quiet shores of the lake at night, 
listening for the voice I had learned to enjoy, but not once did a lonely 
“ hoot ” disturb the silence of the solitude. . 
Every one t.herejalso remarked on the scarcity of the Varying Hare, as 
compared with the numbers usually present. After the first fall of snow 
I noted occasional signs, and also procured a specimen, but their numbers 
were negligible. Grouse too, were scarce. 
The significance of the whole thing dawned upon me when on November 
7, the first day after my return to Southern Ontario, I noted several Horned 
Owls, which was an uncommon occurrence. The day previous a friend had 
observed three. These birds were lazily perched in the open hardwoods 
enjoying the sunshine, and quite apparently oblivious to their surroundings. 
This is contrary to the usual secretive habits of the birds when here. 
Continuously throughout November these owls wefe frequently o - 
served and many were shot for taxidermic purposes. After this month 
their numbers were reduced but signs of their lulling, usually a luckless 
Cottontail, was noted with greater frequency than is usually the case. 
Personally, the ingress of Goshawks was not noted as exceptional, 
although greater numbers may have prevailed in other localities. Each 
fall sees a certain influx of these destructive birds, with their bold propensi- 
ties for domestic fowl, much to the vexation of most poultry-men. 
To reiterate: The point of interest lies in the fact that the Horned Owls 
were apparently absent from the north country at the time of my trip 
October 20-November 6; common on my return to Preston, Ont. November 
7, and apparently so at other points in southern Canada; with their 
subsequent invasion of the northern States, which I assume immediately 
followed as indicated by Mr. Brockway’s communication to The Auk. 
J. Dewey Soper, Preston, Ont 
