268 TEN TEAKS IN SWEDEN 



Finland,, both males. Not known in Denmark. Figured by 

 Dr. Bree as tlie pale-chested harrier. 



NOCTUENAL BIEDS OF PREY. 



Fam. 2. STEIGID^. OWLS. 



Eyes large, in front of the round head, surrounded with a 

 disk more or less perfect, of stiff hairy feathers ; beak small; 

 plumage soft and downy ; legs always thickly clothed with 

 soft feathers. 



By some naturalists this family is subdivided into no 

 less than four, and nine genera. I think it far better and 

 simpler to follow Nilsson, and separate it into two divi- 

 sions the diurnal and nocturnal owls. All lay white round 

 eggs, either in holes of trees or in clefts of rocks, very few 

 troubling themselves to make a nest. 



1. Diurnal Owls. 



Ear openings oval, of a moderate size, and with no flap 

 or covering. Feather disk small, and divided at the top. 

 The form of the body appears smaller, because the feathers 

 are not so downy as in the nocturnal owl, and the head is 

 smaller in proportion. 



Noctua, Sav. 

 A. With no perceptible ears or horns on the forehead. 



22. STEIX NYCTEA, L. Fjall Uggla. The Snowy Owl. 



D. F. 



Length about 2 feet ; tail 2 inches longer than the 

 wings. All the body plumage white, more or less 

 spotted with blackish grey; head small; beak and 

 claws black; eye orange-yellow. The old birds are 

 nearly pure white ; the younger more or less spotted. 

 Unlike any other owl, the young of which obtain their 

 full mature plumage at the first autumnal month, the 

 snowy owl does not arrive at its mature white dress 

 until after several moults. 



The peculiar home of the snowy owl is on the snow- 

 clad summits of the Scandinavian fells, although in the 



