The Snowy Day Owl. 449 



lay as before, watching for an opportunity, whenever a fish of any 

 size was hooked, the owl struck the other foot also into it, and 

 flew off with it to a considerable distance. In tried instances of 

 this kind, the bird carried its prey across the river into the woods 

 as if to be quite out of harm's way, there was no note uttered on 

 these occasions ; even when two birds joined they ate in 

 silence. 



The hunters sometimes find that the musk rats caught in their 

 traps have been devoured. One of them placed some traps with 

 musk rats for bait, and was rewarded with the sight of one or 

 more Snowy Owls each morning, until the thieves as he called 

 them, were pretty well exterminated. 



The flight of this bird is firm and long sustained, although 

 smooth and perfectly noiseless. It passes swiftly over its hunting 

 ground, seizes its prey by instantaneously falling upon it, and 

 generally devours it upon the spot. When the objects of its 

 pursuit are on the wing, such as ducks, geese, or pigeons, it gains 

 upon them by urging its speed, and strikes them somewhat in the 

 manner of the Peregrine Falcon. It is fond of the neighbour- 

 hood of rivers and small streams, having in their course cataracts 

 or shallow rapids, on the borders of which it seizes on fishes in 

 the manner above mentioned. 



This species is somewhat common in Canada, and specimens of 

 it may be seen in almost every collection of stufi'ed birds. It 

 occurs in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and all the Northern 

 States, but does not descend, except occasionally, to the southern 

 part of the Union. In Lapland it is said, they are shot with a ball 

 while hunting after moles and lemmings. Sometimes when the 

 sportsman has shot a grouse, the Snow Owl sails quietly down and 

 bears it away before the lawful owner can secure his prize. Sir 

 John Richardson says it frequents most of the Arctic lands that 

 have been visited, but retires with the Ptarmigan, on which it 

 preys, to more sheltered districts in winter. "When I have seen 

 it, says this author, on the barren grounds, it was generally 

 squatting on the earth ; and if put up, it alighted again after a 

 short flight, but was always so wary as to be approached with 

 difiiculty. In woody districts it shews less caution, I have seen 

 it pursue the American hare on the wing, making repeated strokes 

 at the animal with its feet. In winter, when this Owl is fat, the 

 Indians and white residents in the Fur countries esteem it to be 

 good eating. Its flesh is delicately white. " Wilson says from 



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