a 
182 BRITISH BIRDS. 
together in the immediate neighbourhood of the nest. On such occasions 
the males are bold to a degree, attacking savagely whomsoever ventures to 
approach their nest ; they will swoop down on the sportsman or his dog, 
especially the latter, and can with difficulty be driven away. The females - 
take matters more coolly, posting themselves near the nest in some con- 
spicuous spot, but always out of gun-range. It devolves upon the male 
bird to go in search of prey, the duty of the female being to divide it, when 
brought to the nest, among her young. Hence the former are always in 
poor condition, whereas the females are generally plump. Round about 
the nest are found mice and lemmings, dismembered and entire.” 
The plumage of the male Snowy Owl varies from pure white, marked 
very slightly on the crown, back, and primaries with dark brown, to white * 
conspicuously barred all over with dark brown. Legs and feet covered 
down to the claws with long hairy feathers. Bill and claws black; irides 
orange-yellow. The female is larger than the male, and it is said always 
to be more spotted and barred than the male. The nestling bird is covered 
with sooty-black down, with brownish tips. 
