SNOWY OWL. 181 



the time of migration large flights of the Snowy Owl have frequently been 

 observed far out at sea ; and Thompson gives us some very interesting 

 details respecting a flock of this species which accompanied a ship half- 

 way across the Atlantic, from the coast of Labrador to the north of 

 Ireland. This migration was described by the captain of the ship as a 

 very beautiful sight, the birds sometimes flying near the vessel, or perching 

 on the spars and the rigging. 



The lemming forms the Snowy Owl's chief food in the far north, the 

 range of both mammal and bird being generally the same; but other small 

 rodents are taken, and it will sometimes attack Ptarmigan and Willow- 

 Grouse, or even the Arctic hare. It is said occasionally to feed on fish. 

 The note of this species is said by Wheelwright to resemble a loud krau-au 

 repeated several times in quick succession, and sometimes a loud rick-rick- 

 rick as it rises startled from its perching-place. 



The nest of this Owl is a simple structure, made of a few lichens, mosses, 

 and feathers, sometimes placed in a hole in the ground, at others on some 

 steep bank or cliff, or on some little eminence rising above the surrounding 

 plains, where it is nothing more than a mere hollow scraped in the rein- 

 deer-moss. The eggs are from six to eight in number, sometimes more, 

 creamy white in colour, and somewhat rough in texture, with little gloss. 

 They are smaller than the eggs of the Eagle Owl, and, as a rule, a little 

 more elongated. They vary from 2^ to 2 inches in length, and from T8 to 

 1'6 inch in breadth. Collett in his ' Remarks on the Ornithology of 

 Northern Norway/ states that " the Snowy Owl does not always lay so 

 many as ten eggs at a time ; it did so, however, last year (1871) in many 

 cases ; and the various circumstances attending the phenomenon are not 

 without interest. As with all birds of prey, the eggs would appear to be 

 laid not in uninterrupted succession, but with that species at intervals of 

 indefinite duration during a lengthened period, fcetation taking place 

 previous to the laying of each egg. A natural consequence is that the 

 young of each brood are widely different in appearance, according to the 

 stage of growth which each has attained. Thus the first of the brood will 

 be almost fledged before the last has broken the shell. And, again, the 

 nestlings, thickly clad with down, necessarily assist in process of incuba- 

 tion ; the old birds have enough to do to provide for the young already 

 hatched, several of Avhich, being more than half-grown, require a good 

 deal of food." The Snowy Owl's breeding-season varies in date a little 

 according to latitude. In Norway and Lapland the beginning of June 

 may be said to be its laying-season ; whilst in the high north the eggs are 

 not laid before the end of that month. According to Collett, " When the 

 female is sitting the male is ever on the watch, and warns his mate at the 

 slightest sign of danger by a loud cry, whereupon she immediately quits 

 her nest, and both birds, screaming incessantly, keep flying for hours 



