16 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds 
but is reported by various correspondents as nesting regularly 
in the counties of Aberdeen, Banff, Elgin, Nairn, Inverness, Ross, 
Sutherland, and even in Caithness; Low describes it as found 
in the more hilly part of Orkney in summer. It is singular 
that this Owl should be so scarce in Ireland, Thompson giving | 
only a single instance of its occurrence. 
Obs.—Several supposed instances of the Snowy Owl (Nyctea 
nivea, Bonap.) breeding im the British Islands are on record. 
In the ‘ Zoologist’? for 1856 (p. 5201), Mr. T. Edward gives 
an account of a nest, contaiming two young birds, which was 
found in 1845 in a narrow chasm on the promontory of Loggie 
Head, Banffshire ; but in a letter which I have lately received from 
Mr. Edward, he tells me that he did not see the birds himself. 
Mr. J. H. Dunn tells me that the Snowy Owl bred on the 
hills of Orphir, near Stromness, about thirty-five years ago. He 
knows the person well who took different nests. 
Dr. Saxby writes that the Snowy Owl was first obtained in 
Shetland in 1808 by Dr. Edmonston, “ who neither had nor has 
any doubt that the bird bred at that time. The spot where the 
nest used to be found is still pointed out.” In Macgillivray’s 
‘ British Birds’ (vol. iii. p. 412) mention is made of a nest and 
three young birds found in Shetland, and reported to Dr. Ed- 
monston, who, however, is there quoted as saying, “ I have 
always doubted whether it bred here.” 
Mr. Robert Gray thinks that the Snowy Owl may breed in 
the Hebrides, where it is by no means rare. It has been re- 
peatedly seen at Benbecula; and specimens have been recently 
obtained in Skye, Harris, and Benbecula. 
On the Continent the Snowy Owl is strictly an Arctic species, 
breeding only at Alpine elevations, and these north of latitude 
60°, hence its nesting in any part of the British Isles appears 
highly improbable. 
The Scops Eared Owl (Kphialtes scops, Keys. et Blas.) is 
recorded by Mr. Hogg (Brewster’s ‘ History of Stockton-on- 
Tees,’ App. p. 14), on the information of Mr. Winch, as having 
been known to breed once, forty years ago, in Castle-Kden 
Dene, Durham. 
