STRIGES. 185 



seems more probable that the nearest ally of Blakiston's Owl is Bubo 

 coromandus , which has occurred in China (Seebohm, Ibis, 1884, 

 p. 183). 



163. SURNIA NYCTEA. 

 (SNOWY OWL.) 



Strix nyctea, Linneus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 132 (1766). 



The Snowy Owl is very large (wing from carpal joint 19 to 

 15^ inches). Its feet are densely feathered to the claws, but its ear- 

 tufts are very small. It is white, more or less barred with brown. 



Figures: Dresser, Birds of Europe, v. pi. 310 (adult), pi. 309 

 (young) . 



The claim of the Snowy Owl to be regarded as a Japanese bird 

 rests upon a single example, which was brought alive into Hakodadi 

 on the 29th of November, 1879, and was said to have been caught in 

 the neighbourhood (Blakiston and Pryer, Trans. As. Soc. Japan, 

 1882, p. 177). 



The Snowy Owl is a circumpolar species, breeding in the Arctic 

 Region of both continents. It is a rare winter visitor to the British 

 Islands. 



164. STRIX URALENSIS. 

 (URAL OWL.) 



Strix uralensis, Pallas, Reise Russ. Reichs, i. p. 445 (1771). 



There are two forms of Ural Owl in Japan, the typical form and 

 a dark tropical form, which may be called Strix uralensis fuscescens. 

 The Ural Owl is a large bird (wing from carpal joint 15^ to 

 12^ inches), but it has a very rounded wing (1st and 10th primaries 

 nearly of equal length). Its ear-conch is furnished with an oper- 

 culum) . 



Figures : Dresser, Birds of Europe, v. pi. 307 (typical form) ; 

 Temminck and Schlegel, Fauna Japonica, Aves, pi. 10 (tropical form, 

 sub nomine Strix fuscescens, dating from 1845). 



The typical form of the Ural Owl probably breeds in Yezzo 

 (Whitely, Ibis, 1867, p. 194), and there is an example in the British 

 Museum (formerly in my collection) M^iich does not differ from pale 



