SNOWY OWL 



1927 



nestling is covered with sooty-black down, the first feathers are similar to those of 

 the adult; whence we must conclude that the evolution of the white plumage 

 dates from an extremely remote period. While Professor Newton is disposed to 

 regard the amount of black in the plumage as an individual peculiarity, Dr. Sharpe 

 believes that the pure white plumage occurs only in the oldest birds, and then only 

 in the male sex. In length the snowy owl measures upward of twenty-six inches. 



SNOWY OWI. AND I,APP OWI,. 



(One-fifth natural size.) 



The snowy owl has a circumpolar distribution, inhabiting the northern regions 

 of both Hemispheres, and straggling southward in winter. Common in L,ewis, and 

 blown over to the east coasts of Scotland in considerable numbers, and likewise vis- 

 iting Ireland in winter, the snowy owl does not breed in any portion of the British 

 Islands. Found in Iceland during the winter, it is a permanent resident in Scandi- 

 navia, Greenland, and Northern Russia; while in winter it ranges all through 



