The Snowy Owl. 77 



FamUy—STRIClDyR. 



Snowy Ov\i,. 



Nyctca scandiacci, LiNN. 



THIS fine divirna] circumpolar Owl is an almost regular visitor in the winter 

 months to the Outer Hebrides, and is more frequent!}- seen in the north 

 of Scotland and on its eastern coast, and in the Orknej' and Shetland Isles, 

 than it is anywhere in England, to whose southern and western counties it very 

 rarely extends its flight. It has been noted more often in the eastern counties 

 than in the northern or soiithern, although three examples have been reported 

 from Devonshire. It has occurred in eveiy month of the year, and has been 

 frequently obtained in Ireland, in the north of which island a flock appeared in 

 November, 1838, that had accompanied a ship from Labrador half way across the 

 Atlantic. There is no instance of the Snowy Owl ever having nested within the 

 limits of the British Isles. It is distributed over the extreme north of the old 

 and new worlds ; and is an inhabitant of the tundras, the bare, treeless plains that 

 three-fourths of the year are covered with ice and snow, where it is the companion 

 of the Gyrfalcon, the Ivory Gull, the Polar Bear, and the Arctic Fox, and of the 

 other denizens of the far north. It breeds beyond the limits of forest growth, 

 within the Arctic circle, in the most desolate plains, where it perches upon blocks 

 of stone, and is very inconspicuous, its plumage blending with the general colour 

 of its surroundings. It is especially fond of hunting by the large rivers that flow 

 into the northern seas, and often captures fish. It is a bird of powerful flight, 

 pursuing and striking down its prey on wing like a Falcon ; wild ducks, grouse, 

 sandpipers, hares, and rabbits are captured by it, and it does not disdain the 

 smaller mammals that are chiefly affected hy all Owls, such as lemmings, rats, 

 and mice. A fine adult example of the Snow}- Owl that was killed on Exmoor 

 at the end of March, 1876, and was examined by the writer in the flesh, was seen 

 to strike down several hares, and was secured in a trap baited with a portion of 

 one of them ; the Swedish name of this Owl is Harfdng, the Hare-catcher. It is 

 stated to be a verj- shy bird to approach, but is ven,- bold at its nest, swooping 

 down to buffet any dogs that ma}^ come near the spot. The nest is composed of 

 a few feathers, with some moss and lichen, placed upon a ledge of rock ; the eggs 

 are from six to eight in number, sometimes in a good lemming year being as 



Vol. Ill X 



