1870.] REEKS — ON THE BIRDS OF NEWFOUNDLAND. 45 



obtained one specimen, which was picked up dead at Cow Head, 

 and appeared to be uninjured. It is a summer migrant. 



Spcnrow Oiol, (Nyctale Richardsoni, Bonap.) — I include this 

 species on the authority of Mr. Downs, who states, in his "Notes 

 on the Laud Birds of Nova Scotia," that it is " abundant in New- 

 foundhmd;" but, strange to say, I never met with a single speci- 

 men, neither were the settlers acquainted with the species : I have 

 very little doubt, however, that it occurs on the island. It is 

 this species which closely resembles the European Nyctea Teng- 

 malmi, but not having specimens I am unable to point out the 

 distinctive characters. 



Snowy Owl, (Nyctea nivea Dmtdui). — Tolerably common, and 

 probably remains in Newfoundland throughout the year, although 

 very rarely seen during the summer months, but this may be 

 owing to its following in the wake of its chief prey, the polar hare 

 {Lcpus glaciaHs)^ and ptarmigan {Lagopus rupestris), which 

 retire to the high land as soon as the snow partially disappears. 

 The " white owl," as the settlers term this species, is a bold, 

 rapacious bird, and not easily driven from its slaughtered prey. 

 One of the specimens, which I obtained at Cow Head, was feeding 

 on an eider duck — probably a wounded bird which it had killed — 

 and was twice knocked over with stones, the last time apparently 

 killed, before it would relinquish the duck : it had, however, 

 sufficient life and strength to force its claws into the arm of 

 the man who picked it up, although protected with all the clothes 

 he usually wore. A large Newfoundland dog, used for retrieving 

 seals, &c., refused to go near this bird after it was knocked down 

 with stones : the men who were present assured me that the bird 

 kept making a "hissing" noise, apparently at the sight of the dog. 

 During my residence in Newfoundland I heard several amusing 

 anecdotes of the snow owl, but, although I can vouch for the truth 

 of them, it is scarcely necessary to reproduce them all in the 

 pages of the " Zoologist :" I will, however, relate one or two 

 which I do not think have before appeared in print. William 

 Youngs of Codroy (Newfoundland), having continually had the 

 bait stolen from one of his fox traps, determined to watch the 

 trap and shoot the robber : for this purpose he selected a fine 

 moonlight night, with snow on the ground, and, with his gun in 

 his hand, a white swan-skin frock on, and a white handkerchief 

 tied round his cap, he secreted himself in a small bush about 



