352 SYRNIA NYCTEA. 



its prey, and returned to the same hole ; or, if it had 

 not perceived any more fish, flew only a few yards over 

 the many pots there, marked a likely one, and alighted 

 at a little distance from it. It then squatted, moved 

 slowly towards the edge, and lay as before watching 

 for an opportunity. Whenever a fish of any size was 

 hooked, as I may say, the owl struck the other foot 

 also into it, and flew off^ with it to a considerable dis- 

 tance. In two instances, I saw the bird carry its prey 

 across the Western or Indian Chute, into the woods, 

 as if to be quite out of harm's way. I never heard it 

 utter a single note on such occasions, even when two 

 birds joined in the repast, which M'as frequently the 

 case when the fish that had been caught was of a large 

 size. At sunrise, or shortly after, the owls flew to the 

 woods, and I did not see them until the next morning, 

 when, after witnessing the same feats, I watched an 

 opportunity, and killed both at one shot." 



Dr Richardson also states that it hunts by day, and 

 remarks that, unless it could do so, it would be unfit 

 to pass the summer within the Arctic circle. " When 

 I have seen it," he continues, " on the barren grounds, 

 it was generally squatting on the earth, and, if put up, 

 it alighted again after a short flight, but was always so 

 wary as to be approached with great difficulty. In the 

 woody districts it shews less caution ; and, according to 

 Hearne, has been known to watch the grouse-shooters a 

 whole day, for the purpose of sharing in the spoil. On 

 such occasions it perches on a high tree, and, when a 

 bird is shot, skims down and carries it off^ before the 

 sportsman can get near it. It preys on lemmings, 

 hares, and birds, particularly the willow-grouse and 



