THE SNOWY OWL. 



^EW of all the groups of birds 

 have such decided markings, 

 such characteristic distinctions, 

 as the Owl. There is a singu- 

 lar resemblance between the face of an 

 Owl and that of a cat, which is the 

 more notable, as both of these crea- 

 tures have much the same habits, live 

 on the same prey, and are evidently 

 representatives of the same idea in 

 their different classes. The Owl, in 

 fact, is a winged cat, just as the cat is 

 a furred owl. 



The Snowy Owl is one of the hand- 

 somest of this group, not so much on 

 account of its size, which is consider- 

 able, as by reason of the beautiful 

 white mantle which it wears, and the 

 large orange eyeballs that shine with 

 the lustre of a topaz set among the 

 snowy plumage. 



It is a native of the north of Europe 

 and America, but is also found in the 

 more northern parts of England, being 

 seen, though rather a scarce bird, in 

 the Shetland and Orkney Islands, 

 where it builds its nest and rears its 

 young. One will be more likely to 

 find this owl near the shore, along the 

 line of salt marshes and woody stubble, 

 than further inland. The marshes do 

 not freeze so easily or deep as the iron 

 bound uplands, and field-mice are more 

 plentiful in them. It is so fleet of 

 wing that if its appetite is whetted, it 

 can follow and capture a Snow Bunt- 

 ing or a Junco in its most rapid flight. 



Like the Hawk Owl, it is a day-fly- 

 ing bird, and is a terrible foe to the 

 smaller mammalia, and to various 



birds. Mr. Yarrell in his " History of 

 the British Birds," states that one 

 wounded on the Isle of Balta disgorged 

 a young rabbit whole, and that a young 

 Sandpiper, with its plumage entire, 

 was found in the stomach of another. 



In proportion to its size the Snowy 

 Owl is a mighty hunter, having been 

 detected chasing the American hare, 

 and carrying off wounded Grouse 

 before the sportsman could secure his 

 prey. It is also a good fisherman, 

 posting itself on some convenient spot 

 overhanging the water, and securing 

 its finny prey with a lightning-like 

 grasp of the claw as it passes beneath 

 the white clad fisher. Sometimes it 

 will sail over the surface of a stream, 

 and snatch the fish as they rise for 

 food. It is also a great lover of lem- 

 mings, and in the destruction of these 

 quadruped pests does infinite service 

 to the agriculturist. 



The large round eyes of this owl are 

 very beautiful. Even by daylight 

 they are remarkable for their gem-like 

 sheen, but in the evening they are 

 even more attractive, glowing like 

 balls of living fire. 



From sheer fatigue these birds often 

 seek a temporary resting place on 

 passing ships. A solitary owl, after a 

 long journey, settled on the rigging of 

 a ship one night. A sailor who was 

 ordered aloft, terrified by the two glow- 

 ing eyes that suddenly opened upon 

 his own, descended hurriedly to the 

 deck, declaring to the crew that he 

 had seen " Davy Jones a-sitting up 

 there on the main yard." 



209 



