THE SNOWY OWL. 



61 



The Baltimore oriole in the south builds its ingenious nest 

 in many a sheltered locality. Of grouse America counts 

 about thirteen species. Surveying the Bird World as a 

 whole, we find that America can claim as its own, six 

 hundred and twenty-eight generic forms. 



We shall briefly describe a few of the most interesting. 



The Snowy Owl is very plentiful in North America. Un- 

 like its congeners, it hunts for prey both by day and night. 

 Though in some individuals the plumage is so white as to 





SNOWY OWL. 



justify their popular name, in others, and perhaps in the 

 majority, it is much shaded and diversified by dusky brown. 

 It has a firm, steady, smooth, and noiseless flight. Over 

 its hunting-ground it passes rapidly, but its keen eye 

 quickly detects its prey, upon which it instantaneously 

 falls, devouring it on the spot. If its victims, such as 



