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BRITISH BIRDS. 



together iu the immediate neighbourhood of the nest. On such occasions 

 the males are bold to a degree, attacking savagely whomsoever ventures to 

 approach their nest ; they will swoop down on the sportsman or his dog, 

 especially the latter, and can with difficulty be driven away. The females 

 take matters more coolly, posting themselves near the nest in some con- 

 spicuous spot, but always out of gun-range. It devolves upon the male 

 bird to go in search of prey, the duty of the female being to divide it, when 

 brought to the nest, among her young. Hence the former are always in 

 poor condition, whereas the females are generally plump. Round about 

 the nest are found mice and lemmings, dismembered and entire." 



The plumage of the male Snowy Owl varies from pure white, marked 

 very slightly on the crown, back, and primaries with dark brown, to white 

 conspicuously barred all over with dark brown. Legs and feet covered 

 down to the claws with long hairy feathers. Bill and claws black ; irides 

 orange-yellow. The female is larger than the male, and it is said always 

 to be more spotted and barred than the male. The nestling bird is covered 

 with sooty -black down, with brownish tips. 



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