188 A. L. V, Mannichü. 



Snowy Owl. Nydea nivca (Thunb.) 



The Snowy Owl occurred all the year round commonly wherc- 

 ever the expedition came as well on islands as along the shore and 

 far up in the country. 



At the edge of the inlandice great quantities of owl pellets were 

 found, and North of Dronning Louises Land 60 km. up the inland- 

 ice, a Snowy Owl was observed on the Nunatak, May 17''^ 1908. 

 Most northerly it was observed on Peary Land lat. 82° 50' n. 



In a letter from Mylius-Erichsen dated May 28'^ 1907 it is 

 mentioned, that two Snowy Owls were observed at Danmarks Fjord 

 lat. 81° п., long. 29° w. The Snowy Owls appeared most numer- 

 ously on their autumn migration from the beginning of August till 

 the middle of October. 



In 1906, when Lemmings occurred abundantly, the Owls could 

 be met with at this season very commonly. Thus I observed one 

 night at the end of August no fewer than 7 Snowy Owls on different 

 places of Muskusoksefjeldet North of Hvalrosodden. 



Through all the summer I met with Snowy Owls in the district 

 between Stormkap and Mørkefjord, which might indicate, that they 

 were nesting here. 



That I did not succeed in finding any nest — in spite of zealous 

 search — may probably be explained by the tendency of the Snowy 

 Owls to place their nests in the most inaccessible spots far from 

 the shore. 



In the montains around the head of Dove Bugt Snowy Owls 

 were seen twice after the commencement of the dark season; this 

 may imply, that at all events a few specimens remain in the country 

 during the winter. If so, they must — according to observations 

 made — stay far up the country amongst rocks, at their breeding- 

 places. 



I consider the high rocks around the Pustervig and Mørkefjord 

 to offer just the favourable nesting places to the Owls, which on 

 the extensive plains covered with luxuriant vegetation between Rype- 

 fjeldet and Hvalrosodden can find great numbers of Lemmings — 

 their favourite food. 



The Snowy Owls are in motion day and night; I saw^ them 

 hunting even in the brightest sunlight. They like, however, especially 

 to hunt in the late hours of the afternoon and early in the morning. 

 At dawn I often saw them wandering from the rocks towards the 

 coast or to the plains. 



Numerous examinations of pellets and a pair of analyses of 

 stomachs have proved, that the Snowy Owls in N. E. Greenland 



