309 



SNOWY OWL. 

 Nyctea scandiaca (Z.). 



Accidental visitant from northern Europe and America, of 

 extremely rare occurrence. 



The earliest allusion to this as a Yorkshire bird is found 

 in Thomas Allis's Report in 1844, thus : — 



Surnia nyctea. — Snowy Owl — A pair were observed on Barlow Moor, 

 near Selby, in 1837 ; the male was shot the 13th of that month 

 [February], and is now in the possession of A. Clapham, Esq., of Potter 

 Newton. (H. Denny's Sketch of the Natural History of Leeds and 

 its vicinity for twenty miles. "Annals of Natural History," Vol. VII. 

 p. 382, and Yarrell's " British Birds.") 



In one instance only has a specimen of this fine species 

 been obtained in Yorkshire, but there are several occasions 

 on which it has been, or is supposed to have been, observed 

 in the county. 



j\Ir. A. Clapham of Scarborough stated that he has in his 

 collection one which was taken on Barlow ^loor (the example 

 referred to by Allis). At that date the moor abounded in 

 rabbits and furze, and was rented by his father for sporting 

 purposes. The bird was first observed by the miller of an 

 adjoining mill on the 12th and mistaken by him for a goose, 

 but seeing it still there the next day he shot at it, just tipping 

 the pinion. On an attempt being made to capture it, the 

 bird threw itself on its back and offered so fierce a resistance 

 that it was secured with difficulty and afterwards killed. 

 This bird was exhibited during the year 1837 at a meeting 

 of the Zoological Society, by Mr. A. N. Vigors, F.R.S. Mr. 

 Clapham said that the Rev. F. O. Morris's statement in his 

 " British Birds " (1851, i. 195), that this bird was accompanied 

 by another of the same species, was incorrect. 



Between the years 1849 and 1853, during the winter or 

 early spring months, Mr. Clapham, whilst walking at Scar- 

 borough, saw a large white bird flying towards the Castle, 

 which, from its size, soft steady flight and broad wings, he 

 concluded was N. scandiaca. This impression was confirmed 



