THE SNOWY OWL. 



253 



instances of its appearance in the neighbourhood of 

 Leipzig and of Dresden; and it has obtained a place 

 in our own Fauna as an inhabitant of the islands of 

 Orkney and Shetland, where it was first detected by- 

 Mr. Edmonstone about eighteen or twenty years ago. 

 It seems probable, from that gentleman's observations, 

 that it is stationary in the last-mentioned locality 

 throughout the year; but Wilson believes it to be only 

 an occasional visitant in the United States, except per- 

 haps in some of the more northern and inland parts, 

 where it may remain during the summer to breed. 



The comparative length of wing and strength of the 

 quill-feathers in this beautiful Owl enable it to fly with 

 much more swiftness, and to remain suspended in the 

 air for a much greater length of time than any other 

 bird of the family. It flies abroad also in the daytime, 

 as well as in the twilight; and in all these particulars, 

 as well as in the nature of its food, evinces a striking 

 approach to some of the more strictly diurnal Birds of 

 Prey. It feeds almost indiscriminately on birds, quadru- 

 peds, fishes, and even carrion ; and is stated by Hearne 

 to be extremely troublesome to the hunter, whom it 

 will follow for a whole day, perching itself on the high- 

 est trees, and skimming down, when a bird has been 

 shot, with such rapidity as to carry off the prize before 

 the sportsman can get within reach of it. "They are," 

 he adds, " so great a hindrance to those employed on 

 the hunting service, that the same premium is given for 

 one of their heads as for that of a hawk." 



Wilson describes this bird as being particularly fond 

 of frequenting the shores and banks of shallow rivers, 

 sailing slowly over the surface, or sitting on a rock a 

 little raised above the water, watching for fish, which it 

 seizes with a sudden and instantaneous stroke of the 

 foot, seldom missing its aim. It is capable of swallow- 



