116 SNOW OWL. 



were shot either during winter, late in the fall, or early in 

 spring; so that it does not appear certain whether any remain 

 during summer within the territory of the United States; though 

 I think it highly probable that a few do, in some of the more 

 northern inland parts, where they are most numerous during 

 winter. 



The colour of this bird is well suited for concealment, while 

 roaming over the general waste of snows; and its flight strong 

 and swift, very similar to that of some of our large Hawks. Its 

 hearing must be exquisite, if we judge from the largeness of 

 these organs in it; and its voice is so dismal, that, as Pennant 

 observes, it adds horror even to the regions of Greenland by its 

 hideous cries, resembling those of a man in deep distress. 



The male of this species measures twenty-two inches and a 

 half in length, and four feet six inches in breadth; head and neck 

 nearly white, with a few small dots of dull brown interspersed; 

 eyes deep sunk under projecting eyebrows, the plumage at their 

 internal angles fluted or prest in, to admit direct vision, below 

 this it bristles up, covering nearly the whole bill; the irides are 

 of the most brilliant golden yellow, and the countenance, from 

 the proportionate smallness of the head, projection of the eye- 

 brow, and concavity of the plumage at the angle of the eye, 

 very different from that of any other of the genus; general co- 

 lour of the body white, marked with lunated spots of pale brown 

 above, and with semicircular dashes below; femoral feathers 

 long, and legs covered, even over the claws, with long shaggy 

 hair-like down, of a dirty white; the claws, when exposed, ap- 

 pear large, much hooked, of a black colour, and extremely sharp 

 pointed; back white, tail rounded at the end, white, slightly- 

 dotted with pale brown near the tips; wings, when closed, reach 

 near the extremity of the tail; vent feathers large, strong shafted, 

 and extending also to the point of the tail; upper part of the 

 breast and belly plain white; body very broad and flat. 



The female, which measures two feet in length, and five feet 

 two inches in extent, is covered more thickly with spots of a 

 much darker colour than those on the male; the chin, throat, 



