THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 197 



and in Scandinavia up to 70° N. latitude. Its breeding range 

 extends within the same parallels of latitude through the whole 

 of Asia; and, again, from Alaska through the whole of North 

 America as far as Greenland. But the bird is also found as a 

 breeding species in South America, in Chili, La Plata, Patagonia, 

 and on the Falkland Islands. 



34.— Scops Owl [Zweugohreule]. 



STRIX SCOPS, Linn.i 



Heligolandish : Lutj Kaukeii-uhl = iiH/c Scops Owl. 



Strix Scops. Naumann, i. 466. 



Scops Otol. Dresser, v. 329. 



Hibou Scops. Temminck, Manuel, i. 103, iii. 54. 



Only once— on the 16th of May 1862— have I succeeded in 

 obtaining this small, pretty miniature Owl on the island ; nor do I 

 think that either before or since has another example been met 

 with. At all events, no second bird of this species has been either 

 caught or shot here. In fact, we can hardly expect to meet with 

 this small bird frequently on the island, considering that it breeds 

 in southern Europe, Asia Minor, Palestine, Persia, and Turkestan. 

 In the north, its breeding range only very rarely advances beyond 

 southern Germany and central Russia. 



35. — Snowy Owl [Schneeeule]. 



STRIX NYCTEA, Linn.^ 



Heligolandish: Snee-iihl = /SiJio!« Owl. 



Strix nyctea. Naumann, i. 417. 



Snowy Owl. Dresser, v. 287. 



Chouette harfang. Temminck, Manuel, i. 82, iii. 45. 



This magnificent Owl has been shot here only once, viz. : — in 

 the autumn of 1839 or '40. The bird was sitting flat on a plot of 

 ploughed land, so that the sportsman, who was looking for Snipe, 

 took it for a white cat and paid no further attention to it. One 

 may imagine his astonishment on seeing the supposed mouser 

 spreading his wings and flying off in the shape of a splendid large 

 white bird. Fortunately, it did not fly very far, for, it having again 

 alighted, he was able to shoot it. It was a beautiful example, 

 with but few spots. In the following summer it was sold to a 

 visitor, and its subsequent destination is unknown to me. In 



' Scops giu (Scop. ). - Nyctea scandiaca (Linn. ). 



