108 BIRDS OF OHIO. 
grown turkeys), grouse, quail, doves, and wild ducks. 
Ieven hawks, crows, and other owls do not escape the vo- 
racity of this tiger among birds, and the !arge hawks are 
emong those attacked and eaten. 
“Of all the birds of prey, with the exception possibly of 
the Goshawk and Cooper Hawk, the Great Horned Owl 
is the most destructive to poultry. Ail kinds of poultry 
seen to be taken, though when Guinca fowis and turkeys 
are obtainable it shows a preference for these.” (Fisher.) 
While this bird does a great deal of good in ridding the 
country of injurious animals, its natural taste for poultry 
sounds its death knell. We must feel a sort of compassion 
for him in his unequal struggle for life. He sees no reason 
for changing his manner of life and we cannot overlook his 
failings. 
145. (376.) NycTEA NycTEA (Linn.). 160. 
Snowy Owl. 
Synonyms: Nyctale scandica, Nyctea scandiaca, N. nivea, N. 
scandiaca var. arctica, Surnia nyctea. 
White Owl. 
Wilson, Am. Orn. IV, 1812, 53. 
The Snowy Owl visits the state only in winter and even 
then in small numbers unless there be some special provoca- 
tion in the matter of failure of food supply farther north. 
It occasionally wanders completely across the state, but is 
clearly more numerous along the lake shore than in the 
interior. It also seems to be more numerous in the western 
third than farther east. We could hardly expect to find it 
except when the ground is covered, and the weather cold. 
This bird is not pure white, but so near that color as to 
appear white. No one would confuse it with any other 
species of birds. 
The favorite food of this large, smooth-headed owl seems 
to be mice and other rodents and fish. Its numbers in Ohio 
are too small to make it of any appreciable benefit, but it 
must be regarded as more beneficial than injurious. It 
probably does eat birds, and may even catch poultry on a 
pinch, but the numbers captured are very small. 
