THE SNOWY OWL. 103 



mens of this bird, which had been caught on board, were brought 

 hither alive. A fourth individual, similarly obtained, died about 

 the time the vessel entered Belfast bay. 



These birds were secured either at twilight or by night, when 

 perched on the rigging, the sailors observing that they were 

 asleep before attempting their capture. They were kept on 

 flesh-meat, winch, for the first ten days, was forced down their 

 throats, but after this time they fed of themselves; in about 

 fifteen days after their capture, the vessel came into port. These 

 three birds, of winch two are males and the other a female, are 

 very fine examples of the snowy owl ; I have not seen a more 

 splendid specimen than the last-mentioned, winch died and is now 

 in my possession. I should consider all of them birds of the year, 

 and from the one that died having been described to me as similar 

 to mine, it probably was so likewise.'* 



Having heard that these were part of a large "flight" of snowy 

 owls which for several days were seen about the vessel, I (never 

 having read of this species being met with on its migration) made 

 the fullest inquiry into the subject. The captain obligingly replied 

 to all my queries, and besides furnished me with the log-book of 

 the ship. 



It may in the first place be desirable to give an extract from the 

 "log" for a week previous to the owls' occurrence, that we may learn 

 if the state of the wind, &c, will account for the great number 

 of these birds observed in the course of their migration. The 

 vessel, which was bound from Quebec to Belfast, was driven by 

 contrary winds along the coast of Labrador. 



Notices of the owls were kept separate, but are here added to 

 the log, which otherwise is much condensed. 



1838. 

 Nov. 8. Wind W.N.W. at noon; strong gales and tremendous sea running. N.W. 

 at midnight, and more moderate. 



* See remarks on Mr. Langtry's birds. His snowy owls, which are kept in a spa- 

 cious garden containing many fruit trees, never perch upon them, but remain con- 

 stantly on the ground, although in rainy weather a portion of their snow-white 

 plumage is much soiled in consequence, greatly to the disadvantage of their 

 appearance. 



