622 SCIENTIFIC AND LITERARY NOTES. 



wood cuts and coloured plates cau bestow. No one need desire a 

 more pleasing book for his library than Dr. Harris's work in its 

 present form ; and all who are interested in horticulture and rural 

 affairs, as well as in Entomology, will find it eminently useful, "We 

 recommend it most cordially. "VY. h. 



SCIENTIFIC AND LITERARY NOTES. 



ZOOLOGY. 



THE SNOWY OWL. 



The local papers contain several notices, two of which we subjoin, of the occur- 

 rence, in great numbers of Nyctea nivea [Strix mjctea, Linn.), the Snowy Owl, on 

 the shores of Lake Ontario. Amongst others, the well-known taxidermist, Mr. 

 Passmore, speaks of having from 30 to 40 specimens in his possession, shot in the 

 neighbourhood of Toronto during the past three weeks. We hear, through 

 private sources, of an equal abundance of this fine bird about Hamilton. At 

 this season, when they migrate from the north, specimens may generally be 

 procured ; but the extraordinary numbers this year excite great attention, and 

 arouse our curiosity respecting the cause. Is it to be sought in circumstances 

 in the northern regions having favoured the bringing-up of a much larger num- 

 ber than usnal, in greater severity of cold driving them more rapidly and in a 

 more crowded manner on their southern wanderings, or in a peculiar abund- 

 ance of suitable food around our lake, bringing together in this quarter all the 

 emigrants from a wide-spread region? 



We are informed that they appeared in similar numbers in 1837; and Mr. 

 Passmore gives 1833, 1839, and 1853 as abundant years. Mr. Passmore speaks 

 of the male as almost invariably white ; the female larger, and beautifully 

 mottled with black. The greater size of the female is observable in many birds, 

 and is very characteristic of Eaptores. The young male is marked like the fe- 

 male, and continues to be so for some time, gradually losing the spots, until at 

 a good age he reaches a snowy whiteness. Hence as comparatively few escape 

 the various dangers to which they are exposed, very white specimens are always 

 much valued by collectors. It is interesting to observe the progress made from 

 year to year in assuming the white livery; but a majority of the males obtained 

 have the spots almost as conspicuous as the females. W. H. 



To the Editor of the Leader. 



Sir, — In your paper of the 12th inst., I noticed an account of the capture, by 

 a Mr, Harvey, of a large owl, which, by the description given, appears to have 

 been the snowy owl {Strix nyctea.) According to Wilson, these birds have their 

 home among the barren rocks of Greenland, and are only driven to our more 

 temperate region by the severity of winter. In their migratory course, they 



