THE SNOWY OWL. 101 



greater number of these noble birds which have wandered to the 

 British Islands, have been the young in the plumage of the first 

 year. 



It is thought desirable to add the following notice of the habits 

 of these owls reared from the nest, as compared chiefly with those 

 of Dr. Neill's bird,* procured when full grown. The male and 

 one female specimen now in Mr. Langtry's possession, are wild, 

 and sometimes fast for one or two days, though food is within 

 their reach. They are chiefly fed on the heads of poultry, wild 

 fowl, and rabbits ; but mice and rats are preferred, as are also sea- 

 gulls : from these birds no feathers have to be plucked, as the owls 

 very efficiently render this service for themselves. The heads of 

 plaice {Platessa vulgaris) several times offered them were refused, 

 and being forced down their throats were instantly ejected. Cast- 

 ings of the indigestible portions of their food are regularly thrown 

 up. Although the female is very partial to washing, the male has 

 never been known to wash. Their usual cry is a long-drawn 

 scream, but frequently they keep a low purring noise like a cat, 

 and the male bird, when annoyed, utters a sound like coo-coo-coo; 

 described by Dr. Neill as "cuckoo." 



The third individual, a female, is very different from the others, 

 in being somewhat playful and quite familiar even with strangers. 

 It was interesting on one occasion, when standing about a pace dis- 

 tant from this bird during bright sunshine, to observe the contraction 

 of the pupil of the eye, which was particularly conspicuous from 

 contrast with the immense golden irides. When attracted by 

 larks which were singing at a great elevation and distance, the 

 pupil, from the ordinary size adapted to near objects, instantly 

 diminished to its minimum, or half the ordinary diameter ; and 

 again, when the sight was directed to birds at less distance, varied 

 accordingly. The other two owls are not in the least affected by 

 bright sunshine; and from their observing birds passing at a 

 great height in the air, or, as expressed to me, "almost in the 

 clouds," they are considered to see as far as a golden eagle, their 

 companion in captivity. Live rats turned out to this female owl 



* See Naturalist's Library: Brit. Birds, Part I. p. 307. 



