348 



SYRNIA NYCTEA. 



THE GREAT WHITE HAWK-OWL, OR SNOWY OWL. 



The old birds of both sexes white, with some brown 

 spots on the head, scapulars and wings ; younger indi- 

 viduals marked above with transversely oblong or lu- 

 nulate umber-brown spots, beneath with transverse un- 

 dulated bands. Tarsi and toes covered with long shag- 

 gy feathers. 



Male The Snowy Owl, which is the largest species 



of the family found in Britain, excepting the eagle owl, 

 is a very beautiful bird, more especially remarkable for 

 its white colour, more or less spotted with brown. Al- 

 though comparatively robust, it owes its bulky appear- 

 ance chiefly to its abundant clothing of soft elastic fea- 

 thers. The head is very large and round, the face flat- 

 tened, the neck short, and, although not remarkably 

 strong, seeming very thick on account of its long plu- 

 mage. The feet are short, strong, and covered with 

 long loose feathers. 



The outline of the upper mandible is curved from 

 the base, although but slightly so along the cere, its 

 ridge broadly convex to the edge of the cere, narrowed 

 towards the tip, which is acute and nearly perpendicu- 

 lar at its extremity, the sides sloping at the base, very 

 convex and nearly erect towards the end, the edges 



