190 A. L. V. Manniche. 



In Snowy Owls I never found that confidence and curiosity, 

 which is characteristic of other arctic birds. It always proved 

 extremel}' vigilant and shy, and only a couple of times 1 succeeded 

 in approaching it within rifle range. 



When the owls set out over the ice to or from the islands their 

 flight was always high and direct. Over land they generally flew 

 lower and in zig-zags. 



The cry was somewhat weak and rather unlike that of any 

 other owl known to me. 



Moulting begins in the middle of July and culminates in the 

 first half of August, when I found numerous lately lost feathers at 

 all the owl-roosts. 



A scared owl would often lose a single flight-feather or tail- 

 feather, 



I observed some 60 Snowy Owls which varied extremely as to 

 their size and colour. It was not difficult by use of my field-glass 

 to distinguish the differences. The smallest owls were without 

 exception very pale a few of them entirely white. I also observed 

 many large and very dark owls. The skin of an old dark female 

 was brought home to the zoological museum in Copenhagen. 



The following measurements have been taken : 



Wing Bill Tarsus 



from wrisl to tip measured by oompass 



448 mm. 49 mm. 64 mm. 



Raven. Corviis corax (L.) 



Ravens were met with almost everywhere we came, always, 

 however, in small numbers. They were seen far inland as well as 

 on islands and outer-skerries; even in the Nunaland, lying 60 km. 

 up the inland-ice, a Raven was observed. Farthest North the Raven 

 was observed February 26*^ 1907 at lat. IS'" n. 



I have not been able to notice any regular migration of Ravens. 

 They disappeared successively on the arrival of the dark season and 

 returned in the same way on the reappearance of the sun. The 

 first record of Raven dates from February 9'^\ the last from No- 

 vember 4'h. 



I have no doubt, that the Ravens do leave N. E. Greenland in 

 the absolutely dark season. If not, the members of the expedition 

 would certainlv not have failed to see them, as one or more 



