NYCTEA NIVEA — THE SNOWY OWL. 25l 



Genus Nyctea, Stephens. 



Large size; head large; destitute of ear tufts; without 

 facial disc. Bill very strong, short, and nearly covered by 

 projecting feathers; claws curved, strong and sharp, and 

 nearly covered by the feathers of the toes; wings long and 

 wide, with the third quill longest; tail moderate, or long 

 and broad; plumage dense. Only one species. 



Nyctea Nivea, Daudin- — The Snowy Owl. 



Audubon's Birds of America, Octavo edition. I., plate 25. 



This large and beautiful species is very common along 

 the lake shore during the winter. As these owls do not 

 breed in our State, but in high northern latitudes, they 

 appear here in winter only, but their visits do not depend 

 on the severity of the weather alone, as the}' are often 

 quite plentiful in mild seasons. This is the case the pres- 

 ent winter, 1858-59, so remarkable for its mildness. In the 

 neighborhood ol' Cleveland a great many were shot, and 

 this is the case almost every year. 



This bird leaves its summer haunts when winter sets in, 

 and, proceeding southward, spreads over the temperate 

 latitudes of North America, Asia and Europe. It is said 

 to build its nest on the ground. The rugged and inhospi- 

 table mountains and shores of Greenland, and the neigh- 

 borhood of Hudson's Bay are its favorite hunting grounds, 

 and it is said to feed on hares, rabbits, ducks, grouse and 

 other small quadrupeds and birds. It has also obtained 

 some celebrity as a fisher. In its winter visits with us, it 

 devours great numbers of mice and other vermin, hunting 

 them during the day, and also during the twilight. 



Few birds attract more attention than this, and conse- 

 quently a great many ol' them are annually shot. It is not, 

 however, likely that the number visiting us will decrease, 



