The Harfang, or Great Snowy Owl. 



peculiar, and so much in its nature resembling that of 

 the feline kind, that it can see much better at dusk than 

 by daylight. The Barn Owl sees in a greater degree 

 of darkness than the others ; and, on the contrary, the 

 Horned Owl is enabled to pursue his prey by day, though 

 with difficulty. Owls are sometimes tamed by persons 

 in the country, who carefully rear them in a domestic 

 state, from their propensity to chase and devour mice 

 and other vermin, of which they clear the houses with 

 as much address as cats. The Owl is a solitary bird, and 

 is said to retire into holes in towers and old walls in the 

 winter, and pass that season in sleep. 

 " The solitary bird of night, 



Through the pale shade now wings his flight, 

 And quits the time-shook tower ; 



Where, shelter'd from the blaze of day, 



In philosophic gloom he lay, 



Beneath his ivy bower.'' CARTER. 



THE HAKFANG, OK GKEAT SNOWY OWL. 



THE HARFANG, or GREAT SNOWY OWL, (Surnia nyctea,) is 

 another species which takes its prey occasionally by day- 



