The terrestrial mammals and birds of Nortli-East Greenland. 139 



almost exclusively feeds on Lemmings. In a few pellets I further- 

 more found remnants of Lepus glacialis and Lagopiis mutas. As an 

 exception I also found remnants of Emberiza nivalis. There can be 

 no doubt, but that the Snowy Owl is a dangerous enemy to the Alpine 

 Hare on places, where it is in want of other food; but I have had 

 good opportunity to observe, that Alpine Hares in N. E. Greenland 

 as a rule have nothing to fear. I often observed owls and hares 

 sitting close to each other showing no sign of hostility. On a cer- 

 tain occasion quite the reverse seemed however to be the case. 



One day in October I had for a while observed a Snowy Owl 

 — an unusually big and dark coloured bird — which had settled 

 on a block of stone on the lowest slope of a large rock. 



After three hours I approached the owl, which at last — as it 

 seemed — very reluctantly left its seat only to settle again soon 

 after on another rock a little higher up the fell. 



I judged from the behaviour of the bird, that someting unusual 

 had attracked its attention and went to the spot, where the bird had 

 been sitting, in order to examine the place. 



Two Alpine Hares were sitting in a sort of cavern made by 

 blocks of stones rolled down ; they proved very frightened and could 

 hardly be driven off. At last I chased the hares out of their shelter 

 whereupon they sat watching and nervously striking the ground 

 with their hind legs till they soon after with surprising rapidity 

 rushed back to the cavern. It seems evident to me, that the fright 

 of the hares was caused by the owl, which had certainly made an 

 attack on them, and was now sitting awaiting their return from 

 the cave. 



The Snowy Owl could most frequently be found on large 

 meadows and marshes chiefly with a single large stone, on elevated 

 ground or on table-lands with rich vegetation and scattered rocks. 



To such places many Lemmings resorted, and the owls could 

 consequently find plenty of food without running the risk of being 

 surprised by enemies. 



The owl-roosts were always marked by heaps of pellets, excre- 

 ments and feathers lost by moult. 



The owls used to sit on their favourite spots for hours — some- 

 times certainly for some 12 hours. If one knows the hunting district 

 of an owl well, he will always with certainty be able to foretell 

 where the scared bird will take its next station; so invariably will 

 it make use of its once selected hunting-places. 



In the dusk and by night, when the Lemmings venture to go 

 farther around, the Snowy Owl will hunt them, flying Kestrel-like 

 and keeping itself on flapping wings ower a certain spot before it strikes. 



