SNOWY OWL. 63 



1863). Two specimens, both young birds, were obtained in the 

 Clyde in the same year, one near Port-Glasgow, the other at 

 Pollokshields, near the city of Glasgow. One was seen during 

 the months of October and November, 1868, in the neighbour- 

 hood of Ben Lomond. It made frequent descents to the low 

 grounds, and appeared to live chiefly upon grouse. 



Having examined altogether between twenty and thirty Scot- 

 tish specimens of this beautiful owl, in the various collections 

 which I have visited, I find that the number of young and old 

 birds is about equal. Those taken on the west coast are probably 

 migrants from Canada. Very large flights have, in fact, been 

 observed by the masters of vessels trading between America and 

 this country. The late Mr Thompson, in his " Birds of Ireland," 

 has given some very striking records of this kind. In one case 

 as many as fifty or sixty Snowy Owls were observed flying about 

 the ship, and alighting on the rigging, the vessel being then about 

 500 miles from the nearest land. Numbers continued following 

 in its course for about four days, making their appearance among 

 the spars occasionally for rest during the night. Mr Thompson 

 conjectured that these flocks had come from the coast of Labrador, 

 and were migrating to more southern latitudes. Several friends 

 of mine, who have made voyages between the two countries about 

 the close of autumn and beginning of winter, have informed me 

 that a few Snowy Owls are generally met with, at long distances 

 from land, and that, on nearing the coasts of America, the birds 

 are met coming from that country, and are seen pursuing a south- 

 easterly course. It is not unlikely, indeed, that the owls seen by 

 Mr Thompson's informant during four days' sailing did not all 

 belong to one migrating party, but were distinct flocks following 

 their ordinary line of flight. 



On the eastern side of Scotland, the numbers that occur there 

 are probably natives of northern Europe, as it is only after severe 

 north-easterly gales that they are met with. Since the beginning 

 of the present century, the species has been a well-known visitant 

 to Orkney and Shetland. In May and June, 1864, several were 

 observed in the island of Unst. Three were shot, and one of 

 these is now in the possession of Dr Saxby. 



