SNOWY OWL. 181 
- the time of migration large flights of the Snowy Owl have frequently been 
observed far out at sea; and Thompson gives us some very interesting 
details respecting a flock of this species which accompanied a ship half- 
way across the Atlantic, from the coast of Labrador to the north of 
Ireland. This migration was described by the captain of the ship as a 
very beautiful sight, the birds sometimes flying near the vessel, or perching 
on the spars and the rigging. 
The lemming forms the Snowy Owl’s chief food in the far north, the 
range of both mammal and bird being generally the same ; but other small 
rodents are taken, and it will sometimes attack Ptarmigan and Willow- 
Grouse, or even the Arctic hare. It is said occasionally to feed on fish. 
The note of this species is said by Wheelwright to resemble a loud krau-au 
repeated several times in quick succession, and sometimes a loud rick-rick- 
rick as it rises startled from its perching-place. 
The nest of this Owl is a simple structure, made of a few lichens, mosses, 
and feathers, sometimes placed in a hole in the ground, at others on some 
steep bank or cliff, or on some little eminence rising above the surrounding 
plains, where it is nothing more than a mere hollow scraped in the rein- 
deer-moss. The eggs are from six to eight in number, sometimes more, 
creamy white in colour, and somewhat rough in texture, with little gloss. 
They are smaller than the eggs of the Eagle Owl, and, as a rule, a little 
more elongated. They vary from 21 to 2 inches in length, and from 1°8 to 
16 inch in breadth, Collett in his ‘ Remarks on the Ornithology of 
Northern Norway,’ states that “the Snowy Owl does not always lay so 
many as ten eggs at a time; it did so, however, last year (1871) in many 
cases; and the various circumstances attending the phenomenon are not 
without interest. As with all birds of prey, the eggs would appear to be 
laid not in uninterrupted succession, but with that species at intervals of 
indefinite duration during a lengthened period, foetation taking place 
previous to the laying of each egg. A natural consequence is that the 
young of each brood are widely different in appearance, according to the 
stage of growth which each has attained. Thus the first of the brood will 
be almost fledged before the last has broken the shell. And, again, the 
nestlings, thickly clad with down, necessarily assist in process of incuba- 
tion; the old birds have enough to do to provide for the young already 
hatched, several of which, being more than half-grown, require a good 
deal of food.” The Snowy Owl’s breeding-season varies in date a little 
according to latitude. In Norway and Lapland the beginning of June 
may be said to be its laying-season ; whilst in the high north the eggs are 
not laid before the end of that month. According to Collett, ““ When the 
female is sitting the male is ever on the watch, and warns his mate at the 
slightest sign of danger by a loud cry, whereupon she immediately quits 
her nest, and both birds, screaming incessantly, keep flying for hours 
