289 



This Owl is essentially a bird of the extreme north, frequenting the Arctic regions of both 

 hemispheres, only straggling southward during the winter season. In Great Britain it occurs 

 from time to time, and, as may be surmised, is met with more frequently in the northern portions 

 of our islands. First recorded as a British bird by Dr. Edmonston in 1811, he having found one 

 hung up as a scarecrow in the Shetland Islands, it has since been so often met with in the west 

 of Scotland that Mr. R. Gray considers (B. of W. of Scotl. p. 62) that " it may almost be regarded 

 as a regular spring visitant to the Outer Hebrides. In the Island of Lewis, especially, it is 

 frequently seen and shot ; and specimens have also from time to time occurred in Harris, North 

 Uist, and Benbecula. In the last-named island one was shot in June 1863 by Mr. J. Ferguson, 

 surgeon, at that time resident there. Sir James Matheson has informed me that in the course 

 of a single season, some years ago, several were shot in Lewis. Three or four were observed 

 there in the spring of 1868 ; and one of these was shot on the 21st of April by Kenneth Hosack, 

 the keeper at Gress. This bird was seen daily in company with another Snowy Owl, frequenting 

 the farm of Galson, near Ness, for more than two weeks ; and the survivor afterwards disappeared 

 for a time, but was seen again at the same farm on the 8th of May. Mr. John Munro, the keeper 

 at Marybank Lodge, Stornoway, informs me that a fine specimen was obtained at North Tolsta in 

 the beginning of April 1867, and adds that the species occurs in the island every spring. In 

 localities nearer the mainland the Snowy Owl has been met with in Skye in several instances, in 

 Mull, and in lona ; while on the mainland itself it has been shot in Caithness (1850), Sutherland- 

 shire (July 1863), Inverness (Lockness, October 1868), Ayrshire (Kilmarnock, February 1863), 

 Renfrewshire (December 1863). Two specimens, both young birds, were obtained in the Clyde 

 in the same year — one near Port Glasgow, the other at Pollokshields, near the city of Glasgow. 

 One was seen during the months of October and November 1868 in the neighbourhood of Ben 

 Lomond. It made frequent descents to the low grounds, and appeared to live chiefly upon 

 Grouse. Having examined altogether between twenty and thirty Scottish specimens of this 

 beautiful Owl, in the various collections which I have visited, I find that the number of young 

 and old birds is about equal. Those taken on the west coast are probably migrants from Canada. 

 Very large flights have, in fact, been observed by the masters of vessels trading between America 

 and this country. 



"On the eastern side of Scotland the numbers that occur there are probably natives of 

 Northern Europe, as it is only after severe north-easterly gales that they are met with. Since 

 the beginning of the present century the species has been a well-known visitant to Orkney and 

 Shetland. In May and June 1864 several were observed in the Island of Uist. Three were 

 shot; and one of these is now in the possession of Dr. Saxby." In the north of England it has 

 occurred several times. Professor Newton records (op. cit.) three instances of its having been 

 met with in Northumberland ; and Mr. H. Denny (P. Z. S. 1837, p. 45) states that a male was 

 captured at Selby, in Yorkshire. In Norfolk it has occurred several times, as recorded by 

 Mr. H. Stevenson, who writes (B. of N. p. 57) that, " according to Hunt, one was shot, at 

 Felbrigg during the spring of 1814 ; and he adds, ' the weather had been previously exceedingly 

 severe during nearly three months. This specimen, we are informed by the Rev. G. Glover, was 

 presented to Lord Stanley. It had been observed for several days standing on a heap of snow 

 which had been blown against a fir ; it had been often roused, and was at length taken with 



4q2 



