380 THE SNOWY OWL. 
Shanghai roosters and a cage of parrots were closing in for a life and death 
struggle, but the music suddenly ceased before the bird-man could command 
his gun—and his nerves. Some nights later the shivaree was repeated, from 
the chimney of a neighboring church; and there | saw the Owl, clearly outlined 
against the moonlit sky. The tension of mystery was relieved but the 
concrete awfulness of that first occasion haunts me yet like a voice from 
the Inferno. 
The Great Horned Owl is the earliest nester in the state. . Fresh eggs 
are usual the last week in February, and January records are not unknown. 
Eggs are deposited in old Crows’ or Hawks’ nests, or, less commonly, in 
hollow trees. They are laid at intervals of two or three days, and incuba- 
tion, beginning with the first egg, is kept up about four weeks. The owlets 
are thrifty young knavyes, and their maintenance costs many a hecatomb 
of rats and rabbits, with now and then a juicy quail. 
No. 170. 
SNOWY OWL. 
A. O. U. No. 376. Nyctea nyctea (Linn.). 
Description.—Adult male: Without plumicorns ; entire plumage pure white, 
sometimes almost unmarked, but usually more or less spotted or indistinctly barred 
above with pale brownish or fuscous,—perhaps heaviest on middle of back and 
wing-coverts ; wing-quills and tail-feathers irregularly and sparingly spotted with 
dusky ; below still fainter indications of dusky barring; legs and feet immaculate, 
heavily feathered; bill and claws black; iris yellow. Adult female: Similar to 
male, but much more heavily barred with brownish black,—only face, fore breast 
and feet unmarked; top of head and hind neck spotted with dusky. Length 
20.00-27.00 (508.-685.8) ; wing 15.50-18.75 (393.7-476.3) ; tail g.00-10.50 (228.6- 
2606.7) ; bill 1.10-1.40 (27.9-35.6). 
Recognition Marks.—Large size (Brant size); snowy white with dusky 
bars ; no ear-tufts. 
Nesting.—Does not breed in Ohio. Nest, on the ground. Eggs, 3-10, white. 
Av. size, 2:24 x 1.77 (56.9 x 45.). 
General Range.—Northern portions of the Northern Hemisphere. In 
North America breeding wholly north of the United States; in winter migrating 
south to the Middle States, straggling to South Carolina, Texas, California, and 
Bermuda. 
Range in Ohio.—Formerly common; now rare winter visitor in northern 
Ohio. Casual elsewhere. 
DURING January and February of 1902 there occurred a remarkable 
invasion by Snowy Owls, which was reported from localities as diverse as 
