46 STOJilES ABOUT BIRDS. 



When the vessel returned to En^^land, a naturahst who was on board had 

 •a snowy owl as a pet. He had bought him of an Indian, and kept him during 

 the voyage. 



At first the owl was very timid, and tried to get away if any one came 

 near him. But by degrees he became more courageous, and devoured the 

 pieces of meat given to him with an excellent appetite. 



His disposition was very gentle, and he never attempted to strike with 

 liis claws, or to bite anybody. 



The captain put up a roost for the owl, and used 1o amuse himself by 

 shaking hands, as he called it. This was done by putting one of his fingers 

 among the talons of the bird and shaking the foot, often very roughly. But 

 the owl seemed highly delighted, and used to support himself on the other 

 leg. He was a great favourite with the sailors, and they used to give him 

 .all the scraps of meat they could. Indeed, he was so used to be fed that he 

 would take the bits from them when dozing on his perch, and without being 

 at the trouble of opening his eyes. 



One day, as he was having a nap, a sailor held his hands full of salt water 

 before him. The owl thought the water was meant for a bath, and dropped 

 his head into it, a mistake that was very unpleasant. 



The next time the trick was played the owl knew better, and gave the 

 sailor a great bite. 



One day at dinner, when the sea was very rough, the owl was thrown 

 from his perch, and alighted on the bald head of the carpenter, who was 

 sitting at the table. The carpenter pushed him off, and he flew to the mate, 

 and settled himself firmly on his thick bushy hair. Nor did he seem in any 

 hurry to depart, for though the mate kept striking at him, every blow was 

 repaid with interest by a hard grip of the talons, and a box on each ear 

 from the two powerful wings. 



At length, however, when the sea became calmer and the vessel ceased 

 to rock, the owl went away to his perch. 



The plumage of this owl, as you may suppose from his name, is white, 

 and in the winter can hardly be distinguished from the snow. The only part 

 •of our own islands that he inhabits is Shetland, and once or twice he has been 

 seen in Orkney. He likes solitary districts, and in these islands does not, 

 as in America, come abroad in the day-time. 



On the approach of twilight, he prowls over the fields in search of mice 



