NATURAL HISTORY. 



217 



NYCTEA. (Gr. NVKTLOS, nightly.) 



Nivea (Lat. snowy), the Sn6wy-owl. 



The SNOWY OWL is properly an inhabitant of the north of 

 Europe, but has more than once been discovered in Great 

 Britain. It is also found in North America. Wilson relates 

 that it is a good fisher, snatching its prey from the water by 

 a sudden grasp of the foot. It also preys on lemmings, hares, 

 ptarmigans, &c., chasing and striking at them with its feet. 

 It makes its nest on the ground, and lays three or four white 

 eggs, of which more than two are seldom hatched. Its length 

 is from twenty-two to twenty-seven inches, the expanse of 

 wing four feet ; the third primary feather is the longest. 



K 



