strigida:. 



503 



THE SNOWY OWL. 



NVCTEA SCANDIACA (Lillliailis). 



This conspicuous bird was first noticed in Britain by the late 

 Dr. Edmondston, who recognized it in 181 1 on Unst, the most 

 northern of the Shetland Islands, to which, as well as to the Orkneys, 

 it is now known to be an almost annual visitor in the cold season, 

 especially after northerly gales ; while its occurrence in the Outer 

 and the Inner Hebrides, as well as on the mainland of Scotland, is 

 by no means unusual. In England it has been obtained on several 

 occasions in Northumberland and Yorkshire, nine times in Norfolk, 

 once in Suffolk, and about five times in Devon, while one on Exmoor 

 may be given to Somerset. To Ireland its visits have been less fre- 

 quent, but at intervals it has been observed in several counties 

 during the winter months. In a wild state it has never been known 

 to breed in the British Islands, though it has done so in captivity. 



To the Fceroes and Iceland the Snowy Owl is only a straggler : 



