62 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



of age. So far as I have observed, the red varieties are more 

 commonly met with in the western counties than in the east or 

 north. 



The food of this owl consists entirely of harmless plunder, such 

 as rats, mice, and other small quadrupeds an occasional young 

 rabbit or small bird, varied by fish, and even earth-worms. In 

 secluded forests at a distance from farm steadings, or other 

 dwellings attractive to rats, I believe it will be found that moles 

 and field-mice constitute its chief prey; and on that account, as 

 well as for its own sake and the associations it calls forth as it 

 croons its nightly serenade, I commend it to the merciful considera- 

 tion of those who have the power to protect it. 



THE SNOWY OWL. 

 SURNIA NYCTEA. 



THIS large and handsome bird may almost be regarded as a 

 regular spring visitant to the Outer Hebrides. In the island of 

 Lewis, especially, it is frequently seen and shot, and specimens 

 have also from time to time occurred in Harris, North Uist, and 

 Benbecula. In the last-named island, one was shot in June, 1863, 

 by Mr J. Ferguson, surgeon, at that time resident there. Sir 

 James Matheson has informed me that in the course of a single 

 season, some years ago, several were shot in Lewis. Three or four 

 were observed there in the spring of 1868, and one of these was 

 shot on the 21st April, by Kenneth Hosack, the keeper at Gress. 

 This bird was seen daily in company with another Snowy Owl, 

 frequenting the farm of Galson, near Ness, for more than two 

 weeks, and the survivor afterwards disappeared for a time, but 

 was seen again at the same farm on the 8th of May. Mr John 

 Munro, the keeper at Marybank Lodge, Stornoway, informs me 

 that a fine specimen was obtained at North Tolsta in the begin- 

 ning of April, 1867, and adds that the species occurs in the island 

 every spring. 



In localities nearer the mainland, the Snowy Owl has been met 

 with in Skye in several instances, in Mull, and in lona; while on 

 the mainland itself, it has been shot in Caithness (1850); Suther- 

 landshire (July, 1863); Inverness (Lochness, October, 1868); Ayr- 

 shire (Kilmarnock, February, 1863); and Eenfrewshire (December, 



