148 SNOWY OWL. 



shelter of projecting stones, can be, as some have thought, 

 for the purpose of avoiding a strong glare of light: they 

 seem to have no dread of a 'coup de soleil.' Though the 

 frozen regions are the home of these birds, they appear to be 

 able to bear heat without inconvenience. They are of a shy 

 nature, but will sometimes approach a sportsman, in antici- 

 pation of his furnishing them with food, and are not deterred 

 even by the sound of the gun, but rather seem to consider 

 it as a dinner bell, whose summons calls them to a meal. 

 They frequent open snow-covered districts, and also mountains 

 and wooded ones, and perch upon a stone or other eminence, 

 from whence they can keep a look-out. Their similarity of 

 colour to the snow may possibly give them some advantage, 

 as the rifle green to the rifle brigade, at least so it has 

 been suggested. If put up they fly a little way, and then, 

 generally, light again. They are said, when fat, to be good 

 eating. When they begin to prowl about, they are followed, 

 like the Hawks, by Rooks and other birds. Instances are 

 reported to have occurred when they have been surprised 

 asleep, and caught napping. When taken young they may 

 be partially tamed. 



In flight these birds are very active, resembling in this 

 respect the Hawks more than the Owls, though the airy 

 lightness of the latter on the wing is by no means lost. Mr. 

 Thompson, of Belfast, has well remarked that rare birds that 

 are met with wandering about the country, are, for the most 

 part, young ones, and the reason doubtless is that touched 

 upon by me in treating of the Kestrel the parent birds 

 retain possession of their own native haunts the young are 

 compelled to rove. 



The food of this species consists of hares, rabbits, rats, 

 lemmings, squirrels, and other animals; as also of capercali, 

 ptarmigans, ducks, partridges, sandpipers, and any others of 

 the smaller birds. Mr. Mu die's theory is that the hares and 

 ptarmigans would be destroyed by famine and cold in the winter, 

 if they were not devoured by the Snowy Owls, so that it 

 would appear that they have to feel indebted to the latter 

 for putting them out of the way of future misery. They prowl 

 for prey near the ground, and strike with their feet. They are 

 said in case of necessity to feed on carrion. Small prey such 

 as young rabbits, and small birds, they occasionally at all 

 events swallow whole. They also feed on fish, which they 

 dexterously skim from the surface of the water, or sometimes 



