448 The Snowy Day OwL 



Eared owl ; and Bubo, tlie norned owl. There are four spe- 

 cies of tlie first genus, and they, unlike others of the family, hunt 

 by day as well as by night. The largest species and the one 

 most common in Canada is the following : 



The Snowy Day Owl. 



Surnia JVi/ctea. — (Linn). 



In this magnificent species, the head is small in proportion to 

 the size of the body ; the bill almost entirely hidden by the 

 hairy feathers at its base ; plumage snow white, but mor or less 

 variegated with transverse brown spots or stripes ; the younger 

 the bird is the longer and more numerous are those spot 4 and 

 stripes ; very old individuals are pure white, without any brown 

 spot ; the feet are covered with fine hair-like feathers so that 

 each seems buried in a lock of coarse wool, the claws only peep- 

 ing through. The length of the male is about 21 inches, spread 

 of wino's 53 ; female 26 65. 



This is a northern species, the geographical range being extend- 

 ed quit§ into the arctic circle, and according to many good orni- 

 tholoo-ists, it is identical with the bird bearing the same name 

 which is found in all the polar regions of the old world. It is 

 called by the Crees, Wapow-keetho or Wapohoo, and by the 

 Esquimaux, Oopeeguak. It hunts during the day as well as in 

 the dusky light of the morning and evening, feeding upon hares, 

 squirrels, mice, fishes and birds. Audubon found in the stomach 

 of one specimen, the whole of a large rat in pieces of considerable 

 size, the head and tail being almost entire, the same Naturalist 

 saw some of these birds catching fish ; they invariably laid down 

 flat upon the rock with the body placed lengthwise along the 

 border of the hole, the head also laid down but turned towards 

 the water, one might have supposed the bird sound asleep, as it 

 would remain in the same position until a good opportunity of 

 securing a fish occurred, which was never missed ; for as the lat- 

 ter unwittingly rose to the surface, near the edge, the owl thrust 

 out the foot next the water, and with the quickness of lightning, 

 seized it and drew it out. The owl then removed to the distance 

 of a few yards, devoured his prey, and returned to the same hole ; 

 or, if it had not perceived any more fi>h, flew only a few yards 

 over the many holes, marked one, and alighted at a little distance 

 from it. It then squatted, moved slowly towards the edge, and 



