SNOWY OWL. 137 



could do so, it would be unfit to pass the summer within the 

 Arctic Circle. When seen 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 wooded districts it 

 shows less caution ; and, according to Hearne, has been 

 known to watch the Grouse-shooters a Avhole day, for the 

 purpose of sharing in the spoil. On such occasions, it 

 perches on a high tree, and when a bird is shot, shims down 

 and carries it off before the sportsman can get near it. It 

 preys on lemmings, hares, and birds, particularly the Willow 

 Grouse and Ptarmigan. Mr. Hutchins says that it eats car- 

 rion ; and Wilson informs us that it is a dexterous fisher, 

 grasping its finny prey with an instantaneous stroke of the 

 foot as it sails along near the surface of the water, or sits on 

 a stone in a shallow stream. I have seen it pursue the Ame- 

 rican hare on the wing, making repeated strokes at the animal 

 with its foot : but on that occasion, through the intervention 

 of an Indian, it was driven from its quan-y. It makes its 

 nest on the ground, and lays three or four white eggs, of 

 which only two are in general hatched. In winter, when 

 this Owl is fat, the Indians and white residents in the fur- 

 countries esteem it to be good eating. Its flesh is delicately 

 white." 



To return to the localities visited by this bird in Europe, 

 I may add that, in addition to those already named, this bird 

 has sometimes been seen in Germany, but not in France, 

 and, according to M. Temminck, only once in Holland, and 

 that a young bird, which made its appearance in the winter 

 of 1802. The African species of large White Owl, which 

 by some authors has been thought to be identical with the 

 Harfang of Sweden, is now considered to be a distinct species. 



As in the adult Gyrfalcon, already described, the ground 

 colour of the plumage in the adult Snowy Owl is pure white, 



