SNOWY OWL. 353 



ptarmigan. I have seen it pursue the American hare 

 on the wing, making repeated strokes at the animal 

 with its foot ; but on that occasion, through the inter- 

 vention of an Indian, it was driven from its quarry." 



The snowy owl is, according to authors, an inhabi- 

 tant of the Arctic regions of both continents. In win- 

 ter it retires southward, without extending its migra- 

 tions beyond the colder parts of the temperate zone. 

 In our own country, it has been repeatedly observed, 

 and shot in Shetland and Orkney, and individuals have 

 occasionally strayed into England. 



As a British species it was first described in 1812, 

 in the Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, 

 by Mr Bullock, who met with it in Orkney and Shet- 

 land. Mr Edmondston, in 1822, read a paper to the 

 Wernerian Society of Edinburgh, which has been pub- 

 lished in its Transactions, and in which he gives a very 

 interesting account of its habits. As the work which 

 contains his description may not be accessible to many 

 of my readers, I shall take the liberty of presenting an 

 extract from Mr Edmondston's paper. 



" Although, as has been alleged by ornithologists, it 

 may be more active and alert during the day than 

 other congenerous species, and especially when it is 

 once alarmed, yet I have never remarked it seeking for 

 its prey but towards evening. 



" It rests generally beneath some stony projection, 

 which protects it from the direct influence of the sun ; 

 and some instances have occurred of its being surprised 

 asleep during the day, and forfeiting its life to its supine - 

 ness. 



" Its form and manner are highly elegant ; its flight 



