SNOWY OWL. 351 



the wild state, nor having seen more than two indivi- 

 duals alive, I am unable to present an original account 

 of the manners of that interesting species. I must, 

 therefore, have recourse to the descriptions of those 

 who have studied them in its haunts. Mr Audubon's 

 is to the following eflfect. 



In the United States of America, where it is only a 

 winter visitant, it hunts by day as well as in the dusk, 

 passing over the ground with a smooth and noiseless 

 but firm flight, and seizing its prey by falling suddenly 

 upon it. When it pursues a bird on wing, it overtakes 

 it by its superior speed, and strikes it somewhat in the 

 manner of the peregrine falcon. Its usual food, how- 

 ever, is hares, squirrels, rats, and fish ; of its mode of 

 capturing the latter of which, Mr Audubon gives the 

 following account. 



" At the break of day, one morning, when I lay 

 hidden in a pile of floated logs, at the Falls of the Ohio, 

 waiting for a shot at some wild geese, I had an oppor- 

 tunity of seeing this owl secure fish in the following 

 manner : — While watching for their prey on the bor- 

 ders of the ' pots,' they invariably lay flat on the rock, 

 with the body placed lengthways along the border of 

 the hole, the head also laid down, but turned towards 

 the water. One might have supposed the bird sound 

 asleep, as it would remain in the same position until a 

 good opportunity of securing a fish occurred, which I 

 believe was never missed ; for as the latter unwittingly 

 rose to the surface, near the edge, that instant the owl 

 thrust out the foot next the water, and, with the quick- 

 ness of lightning, seized it, and drew it out. The owl 

 then removed to the distance, of a few yards, devoured 



