108 BIRDS OF OHIO. 



grown turkeys), grouse, quail, doves, and wild ducks. 

 Even hawks, crows, and other owls do not escape the vo- 

 racity of this tiger among birds, and the large hawks are 

 among those attacked and eaten. 



"Of all the birds of prey, with the exception possibly of 

 the Goshawk and Cooper Hawk, the Great Horned Owl 

 is the most destructive to poultry. Ail kinds of poultry 

 seern to be taken, though when Guinea fowls and turkeys 

 are obtainable it shows a preference for these." (Fisher.) 

 While this bird does a great deal ot* good in ridding the 

 country of injurious animals, its natural taste for poultry 

 sounds its death knell. We must feel a sort of compassion 

 for him in his unequal struggle for life. He sees no reason 

 for changing his manner of life and we cannot overlook his 

 failings. 



145. (376.) NYCTEA NYCTEA (Linn.). 160. 



Snowy Owl. 

 Synonyms: Nyctale scandica, Nyctea scandiaca, N. nivea, N. 



scandiaca var. arctica, Surnia nyctea. 

 White Owl. 

 Wilson, Am. Orn. IV, 1812, 53. 



The Snowy Owl visits the state only in winter and even 

 then in small numbers unless there be some special provoca- 

 tion in the matter of failure of food supply farther north. 

 It occasionally wanders completely across the state, but is 

 clearly more numerous along the lake shore than in the 

 interior. It also seems to be more numerous in the western 

 third than farther east. We could hardly expect to find it 

 except when the ground is covered, and the weather cold. 



This bird is not pure white, but so near that color as to 

 appear white. No one would confuse it with any other 

 species of birds. 



The favorite food of this large, smooth-headed owl seems 

 to be mice and other rodents and fish. Its numbers in Ohio 

 are too small to make it of any appreciable benefit, but it 

 must be regarded as more beneficial than injurious. It 

 probably does eat birds, and may even catch poultry on a 

 pinch, but the numbers captured are very small. 



