AVES— OWL. 



465 



ed screams of a person suffocated or throttled, and cannot fail of being 

 exceedingly entertaining to a lonely benighted traveller, in the midst of an 

 Indian wilderness." 



This species inhabits the country round Hudson's Bay ; and according to 

 Pennant, (who considers it a mere variety of the eagle owl of Europe,) is 

 found in Kamtschatka, extends even to the Arctic regions, where it is found 

 white ; and occurs as low as Astrachan. It has also been seen white in the 

 United States, but this has been owing doubtless to disease. It preys on 



young rabbits, squirrels, rats, mice, partridges, and small birds of various 

 kinds. It has been often known to prowl about a farmhouse, and carry off 

 chickens from roost. The great horned owl is not migratory, but remains 

 with us the whole year. He is very rarely seen abroad by day, and never 

 but when disturbed. The nest is generally placed in the fork of a tall tree, 

 and is constructed of sticks piled in considerable quantity, lined with dry 

 leaves and a few feathers. The female lays four white eggs, nearly as large 

 as those of a hen. 



THE SNOWY W L 1 



Is a native of the most northern regions of both continents, passing south- 

 ward in the old as far as the latitude of Astracan, and in the new to that of 



59 



' Strix nydea, Lin. 



