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THE SNOWY OWL. 



hooked beak just appearing from the downy plumage with which it is 

 surrounded, the large, soft, blinking eyes, and the curious disc of feathers 

 which radiate from the eye and form a funnel-shaped depression, are 

 such characteristic distinctions that an Owl, even of the least owl-like 

 aspect, can at once be detected and referred to its proper place in the 

 animal kingdom. 



These birds are, almost without an exception, nocturnal in their 

 habits, and are fitted for their peculiar life by a most wonderfully 

 adapted form and structure. The eyes are so made as to take in every 

 ray of light, and are so sensitive to its influence that they are unable to 

 endure the glare of daylight, being formed expressly for the dim light 

 of evening or earliest dawn. An ordinary Owl of almost any species, 

 when brought into the full light of day, becomes quite bewildered with 

 the unwonted glare, and sits blinking uncomfortably in a pitiable 

 manner. 



The Snowy Owl is one of the handsomest of this group — not so 

 much on account of its dimensions, which are not very considerable, 



but by reason of the beautiful white 

 mantle with which it is clothed, and 

 the large orange eyeballs. 



This bird is properly a native of 

 the North of Europe and America, 

 but has also a few domains in the 

 more northern parts of England, be- 

 ing constantly seen, though rather a 

 scarce bird, in the Shetland and 

 Orkney Islands, where it builds and 

 rears its young. Like the hawk owl, 

 it is a day-flying bird, and is a terrible 

 foe to the smaller mammalia and to 

 various birds. 



In proportion to its size the Snowy 

 Owl is a mighty hunter, having been 

 detected in chasing the American 

 hare, and carrying off* wounded grouse 

 before the sportsman can secure his 

 prey. According to Yarrell, the 

 Swedish name of Harfang, which has 

 been given to this bird, is derived 

 froni its habit of feeding on hares. It is also a good fisherman, 

 posting itself on some convenient spot overhanging the water, and 

 securing its finny prey with a lightning-like grasp of the claw. Some- 

 times it will sail over the surfoce of the stream and snatch the fish as 

 they rise for food, but its general mode of angliug is that which has 



The Snowy Owl (Nydea nivea). 



