242 SNOWY OWL. 



Miscellany, and seems to differ but litttle from the 

 specimen represented in the Planches E?iluminees t 

 and copied into the present work, except in being 

 more uniformly barred or striped. 



It is observed by Mr. Pennant, in his Arctic 

 Zoology, that this species varies greatly in weight, 

 from three pounds to one and a half. " It inhabits 

 the coldest parts of America, even as high as the 

 remote mountains in the icy centre of Greenland, 

 from which, in intense cold, it migrates to the 

 shores. It adds horror even to that country, by its 

 hideous cries, resembling those of a man in deep 

 distress. It is rare in the temperate parts of 

 America, and seldom strays as low as Pennsylvania 

 and Louisiana: is very common in Hudson's Bay, 

 Norway, and Lapland. It fears not the rigour of 

 the season, but bears the cold of the northern 

 regions the whole year. It flies by day, and is 

 scarcely to be distinguished from the snow : it flies 

 pretty swiftly, and falls perpendicularly on its 

 prey : feeds on the white grous, and probably on 

 hares; for to the last circumstance it owes its 

 Swedish name Harfang. It preys also on mice 

 and carrion, and in Hudson's Bay is almost do- 

 mestic, harbouring in places near the tents of the 

 Indians. In Russia it is scarce; but grows more 

 common on the Uralian mountains, and all over 

 the north and east of Siberia, and in its Asiatic 

 Empire, even in the hot latitude of Astrakan: is 

 very numerous in Kamtschatka." 





