OWLS. 161 



During the three summer months in those inhospitable 

 regions, the temperature of the air is little above the 

 freezing-point, and during the remainder of the year 

 far below it : were it not, therefore, for the mass of 

 thick down and feathers in which its body is shrouded, it 

 must soon perish under the intensity of cold ; but as it 

 is, it has nothing to fear ; for, with the exception of the 

 tip of its beak and the extremities of its long black 

 claws, no part is exposed. And again, were it not for 

 its colour, which renders it almost invisible, as it silently 

 skims over the snowy plains, the hares and other animals 

 on which it preys would see its approach, and be pre- 

 pared for escape. 



Of course the habits of a bird so seldom coming under 

 human observation can be but little known ; but the few 

 particulars we have been able to collect completely jus- 

 tify the above remarks. Thus, that its snowy plumage 

 is essential to its means of existence, may be gathered 

 from circumstances relating to a couple that were shot 

 in the severe winter of 1823, in Northumberland. They 

 had, for some days before they were killed, been ob- 

 served in the wild and rocky parts of an open moor, 

 either perched upon the snow, or on some large solitary 

 stone projecting from it, from whence, without attracting 

 notice by any contrasting colour, they could look out for 

 their prey, and be prepared to seize it as it incautiously 

 approached. As the smaller species hunt for mice, so 

 does this search for hares and rabbits, on which it 

 pounces, and in a similar manner swallows them, when 

 possible, whole ; a fact ascertained in the case of one 

 shot at and wounded in the island of Balta, which, on 

 being approached, disgorged an entire young rabbit; 

 another, when taken, had a Sandpiper, with the whole 

 plumage, in its stomach. As they were often found 

 dead by Captain Sir Edward Parry, who spent so many 

 months in their most frequented neighbourhood, it is 

 concluded that they frequently perish from want of 

 food ; indeed, their eagerness to partake of the hunter's 



M 



