14 



THE ANIMALS OF ARCTIC ASIA 



i- 



winter the plumage is pure snowy white, in summer it is flecked with brown, thus 

 exhibiting in a modified decree the colour-change so conspicuous in many Arctic 

 mammals. The loud of this great white owl comprises Arctic hares, lemmings, mice, 

 and birds. If these animals are compelled by the winter cold to move southwards, 

 the snowy owl follows them. In America it is said to reach Florida and Texas: 

 in Europe it winters in Lithuania and Poland, and rarely in Denmark and Great 



Britain ; in Asia it 

 has been found in 

 the valley of the 

 Indus. Its nest is 

 a small heap of moss 

 on the ground ; and 

 the eggs are from 

 four to seven in 

 fejj number, being more 



~%k, j j0 than are hatched 



by any other owl of 

 the same size. The 

 adults, which seek 

 their prey by day 

 as well as by night, 

 select prominent 

 hillocks for their 

 look - out stations. 

 At rest they gener- 

 ally sit erect with 

 the wings partly 

 '*i ml JmM hidden under the 



fluffy side feathers ; 

 and when fluttering 

 and hovering across 

 the tundra they 

 make an audible 

 beating with their 

 wings, so that the 

 flight is not silent 

 like that of other 

 owls. In length the 

 vv owl. snowy owl measures 



about 24 inches. Its 



plumage is white with dark brown mottlings or bars in summer, but tends to 



become lighter with age, and, as already said, in old individuals becomes pure 



white in winter. The toes are thickly feathered : most so in American examples. 



Gerfalcons. ' '"' '- , ' rl ' ;l,,,<)lls ; "'e distributed round the North Pole in several 



species differing so slightly from each other that they might almost 



ssed as varietiea During three months of the year they find abundant food 



