358 SYRNIA NYCTEA. 



Alaco. Of these latter, one, the Syrnia passerina, has 

 sometimes been met with in Britain, and may be seen 

 in most collections of stuffed birds. In size, the snowy 

 owl takes the lead among the Syrniae, and from it 

 to the little species just mentioned there is a great 

 transition ; but exotic species are not wanting to fill up 

 the gap. 



In the Fauna Boreali-Americana, the head of this 

 owl is described as " small." That of a living indivi- 

 dual in the possession of Dr Neill measures six inches 

 across, including the feathers. Its head is certainly 

 much larger in proportion than that of several of our 

 native owls, and is inferior to that of none excepting 

 the tawny owl. 



A " Manual of British Vertebrate Animals," by the 

 Rev. Leonard Jenyns, M. A., having appeared since I 

 finished my account of the Falconine birds, I shall, in 

 treating of the Owls, refer to it in addition to those se- 

 lected for that purpose. 



Strix Nyctea. Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 132. 



Strix Nyctea. Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 57. 



Snowy Owl. Mont. Ornith. Did. Suppl. 



Chouette Harfang. Strix Nyctea. Temm. Man. d^Ornith. p. 82. 



Strix Nyctea. Snowy Owl. Flem. Brit. Anim. p. 58. 



SnoAvy Owl. Syrnia Nyctea. Selby, Illicstr. vol. i. p. 95. 



Noctua Nyctea. Jenyn''s Brit. Vertebr. Anim. p. 93. 



