THE SNOWY OWL. 



February "Prize Story" No. 2. 



This beautifully marked species, al- 

 though common only in frigid latitudes, 

 is a bird of uncommon interest to ornith- 

 ologists on account of its rareness. 



In Norway, Sweden, North Eussia, and 

 Northern America, it might be called the 

 typical species. Many of the Arctic trav- 

 elers when compelled by necessity to in- 

 clude it in their " bill-of-fare," pronounce 

 it not bad eating, somewhat resembling 

 tough beef in taste. 



The colds of winter frequently drive 

 the " Speckled Owl" as far south as the 

 Ohio river; seldom is it ever reported as 

 being captured beyond this boundary. 

 Rarely are they found breeding south of 

 Southern Canada, and even rarely there. 

 They almost invariably place their nest 

 on the ground in a boundless prairie or 

 marsh; for being able to see well by day, 

 they are quite independent of a protect- 

 ing forest. 



The perfect plumage i. e. nearly snow- 

 white with but few scattering feathers 

 giving them a curious speckled appear- 

 ance, is attained when about three years 

 old; previous to this they are darker col- 

 ored. 



The possession of so rare a set as the 

 described species is one of the Oolo- 

 gist's many dreams which are unrealized. 

 Thinking an account of this lucky find 

 would interest the Oologist, I was tempted 

 to write this sketch. 



In 1879, 1 spent the winter with a cousin, 

 Mr. Jaques Harcourt, in the Province of 

 Manitoba. The country at this latitude 

 might be as properly termed the "Collect- 

 or's Paradise" as is southern Florida, for 

 the migratory game birds, such as the 

 Geese, Brants, Loons, Ducks and Swans, 

 breed abundantly, not mentioning the 

 rarer residents. 



One bright, crusty February morning, 

 while looking after my wolf and fox baits, 

 I flushed an admirable specimen of the 

 genus nyctia; involuntarily I brought 

 the gun to my shoulder; "Don't kill it," 



was my second thought, "but take your 

 chances in finding its nest." 



As it was too early to hope for a nest 

 then, I concluded to wait until the close 

 of the month, meanwhile keeping a close 

 eye on them so as to discover the site 

 as easily as possible, when the time should 

 arrive. I soon learned that a pair had 

 used the same nest for two years, so, eag- 

 erly did I bide the time. At last, two 

 days before the close of the month, I 

 went towards the location with many mis- 

 givings as to the success of my trip. Up- 

 on nearing the nest I had the satisfaction 

 of seeing the parent birds both arise from 

 a slightly elevated bog. My brisk walk 

 changed into a run, and upon reaching it 

 I had the satisfaction of seeing six beau- 

 tiful eggs. They were oval-oblong in 

 shape, with a remarkably smooth, white, 

 glossy surface. The measurements were, 

 2.59x1.93, 2.58x1.93, 2.56x1.91, 2.55x1.91, 

 2.55x1.90 and 2.53x1.90. 



The nest, aggregated by tne several ad- 

 ditions, was about eighteen inches above 

 the level of the prairie, composed of hay, 

 grass, and sticks, warmly fined with feath- 

 ers from their breasts. 



The eggs showed, upon blowing, they 

 must have been deposited at irregular 

 intervals, for there was a considerable 

 difference in the embryos. 



My greedy avarice-did not let me sfioot 

 the parent birds, in view of the hope that 

 they might again occupy the nest; but 

 the supposition was groundless, for I nev- 

 er saw them again. 



.Le Grand T. Meyer. 



He Woke Up. 



Van H. Lewis of Potsdam, N. Y., writes : 

 "Taking the hint in the March number of 

 The Oologist's Exchange I 'woke up' and 

 hied me to 'yon leafless wood' in search 

 of Owl's eggs, and what did I find? One 

 set of three Great Horned Owl's, and one 

 set of six Little Screech Owl's eggs. I 

 never took any of the latter as early as 

 this before. Shall try again soon. 



Send 15 cents for a year's subscription. 







