THE 8N0WY OWIi.' 



The name of tliis bird Ls derived from the whiteness of its phimage, which is only in- 

 terrupted on the head and neck by a few minute dots of dull browii, and the rest of the 

 body by regular streaks of the same colour, but naiTOwer and hghter on the under than 

 the upper surface. These streaks do not extend to the legs, which are covered do^vn to 

 the claws by long, thick, shaggy, hair-like feathers. The whole of the plmnage is ex- 

 tremely soft, close, and tliick, afforduig a most effectual defence from the severities of 

 weather, to which this bird is constantly exposed in the Arctic regions, which it inhabits. 

 Even the beak is almost entirely buried in the discs of the eyes, which advance inter- 

 nally to a much greater extent than on the outer side. The his is of a bright golden 

 yellow ; the tail short, scarcely extending beyond the wings ; and the bill and claws 

 strongly curved and of a deep black. The full-grown female, which is rather larger than 

 the male, measures two feet in length, and more than five in the expanse of its wings ; 

 and is consequently by far the largest, but without the tufts of feathers on its head, 

 with which we arc acquainted. 



The Snowy Owl is an occasional visitant of Great Britam, and not very mfrequent in 

 the Orkney and Shetland Islands. It migrates from the Arctic regions of both the Old 

 and New World, on the approach of winter, but without passing to the southward of the 

 colder portions of the temperate zone. It frequently hunts by day, and indeed if it did 

 not do so, what would become of it in those far northern countries " where a sleepless 

 summer of long hght" knows not for months the refreshing influence of nocturnal dark- 

 ness ? It preys not only on quadrupeds and birds, but frequently strikes its talons into 

 fish, and bears them astonished from their moist abode into the leafy recesses of the 

 forest. Its own flesh is said to be white and well flavoured ; and when in good condition, 

 is eaten Iwth by the native Indians and the residents in the fur-countries. 



THE EAGLE OWL.f 



The gi-eat eagle owl is a native of a great part of Evu'ope, and is said to extend 

 eastwards as far as Kamschatka, and to be found even at the Cape of Good Hope. It 

 appears to be most abundant in Russia and Germany, but is rarely seen in France or 



* Noctiia Nyctea. f Stryx Nyctea. 



