SNOWY OWL— WHITE OWL. 147 



appeared to know anything of the breeding of this bird, although Mr. Downs states 

 that it ' breeds in Newfoundland.' Mr. Cordeaux has kindly examined parasites of 

 Nyctea nivea from Newfoundland, and informs me that they are identical with 

 others from European specimens." 



These anecdotes and facts are new and instructive, and as 

 this paper of Mr. Reeks' has been seen by comparatively few in 

 Canada, I have thought well to reproduce this portion of it. It 

 will be observed that the hunters of Newfoundland speak of the 

 "hissing" noise made by this Owl — a fact I have myself already 

 mentioned — and do not speak of the snapping of the mandibles. 

 I am inclined to believe that in this respect the Snowy Owl differs 

 from its confreres the Great Horned Owl, Cinereous Owl, and 

 Barred Owl, all of which species when brought to bay snap their 

 mandibles loudly. According to Teinmiiick, the Snowy Owl 

 sometimes visits the north of Germany, and is casually seen in 

 Holland. In Europe it is known to frequent the Shetland 

 Islands, and is occasionally caught in summer on the moors of 

 the Orkneys. In .Sweden, according to Farrell, the name of 

 Harfau;^ has been given to this species, which is derived from its 

 habit of feeding on hares. Mudie says " it very rarely comes to 

 the Mainland of Britain, and when it does it is always during 

 violent snow-storms from the north, which also bring the northern 

 birds not generally visitants ot our shores." 



The habits of the Snowy Owl during the breeding season, 

 such as the construction of its nest, periods of incubation, etc., do 

 not appear to be well known. Its nest, however, has been found 

 on the ground, and it is said to lay from two to four white, circular 

 eggs, two of which only are hatched. As this Owl undoubtedly 

 lives much on the ground and rocks, it is probable it never builds 

 a nest in trees. 



In Canada I have as yet found no authentic account of its 

 nesting, although it has been mentioned as a resident bird here by 

 Cassin, Baird, Coues, and other American writers, all of whom 

 have probably based their statements on Hall's very erroneous 

 list of our Mammals and Birds. Mr. Wm. Couper, however, 

 infonns me that the Snowy Owl is a summer resident on the 



