SNOWY OWL, 413 



Nyctba scandiaca. (L.) Newton. 



SSnowy Owl- 



Strix nyctea, Wilson, Am. Orn.,iv., 1812,53.— Audubon, Orn Biog.,ii, 1S34, 135.— Nut- 

 tall, Man., i, 1832, 116.— Kibtland, Ohio Geolog. Snrv., 1838, 161, 179.— Kbad, Fam. 

 Visitor, iii, 1853, 295 ; Proo. Pliila. Acad. Nat. Soi. vi., 1853, 395. 



Swrnia nyctea, Audubon, B. Am., i, 1840, 113. 



Nyctea nivea, Kirkpatrick, Ohio Farmer, yiil, 13.')9, 51 ; Ohio Agtio. Eep. for 1%8, 1859, 

 382— Brewer, NA. Oology, Smith. Cootrib., xi, 1859, 80.— Whbaton, Ohio Agric. 

 Rep. for 1860, 1861, 361 ; Keprint, 3 ; Food of Birds, etc, Ohio Agric. Bep. for 1874, 

 lc75, 570 ; Reprint, 10.— Langdon, Cat. Birds of Cin. 1877, 12. 



Nyctea acandxaca, var. arctioa, Baibd, Brewer and Eidgway, N. A. Birds, iii, 1874, 71. — 

 Langdon, Revised List, Journ. Cin. Soo. Nat. Hist., i, 1979,179; Reprint, 13. 



White Owl, KiRTLAND, Am. Joarn. Soi. and Arts, xiii, 1852, 218 ; Ohio Farmer, ix, 1860, 

 91. 



Strix scandiaca, LlNN^US, Syst. Nat., i, 1766, 132. 



Strix arclica, Bartram, Trav. Fla , 1791, 269. 



Strix nyctea, LiNNiEUS, Syst, Nat., i, 1766, 132. 



Surnia nyctea, Sklby, 111. Br. Orn., i, 1833, 95. 



Nyctea nivea. Gray, Gen. of Birds, i, 1844, 34. 



Nyctea scandiaca, Newton, 4th Ed. Yarr. Br. Birds, pt. iii, 1872, 187. 



Pare white with more or fewer blackish markiogs. Length nearly 3 feet ; wing, 17 

 inches ; tail, 10. 



Habitat, northern portion of Northern Hemisphere, ranging irregularly southward in 

 winter. In North America, resident from the Canadas and probably from Maine, 

 northward. Regularly enters the Northern States in winter, frequently wandering to 

 the Middle States, casually to the Southern States, even to Texas. Kansas. Kentucky 

 and South Carolina. Bermuda. 



Common winter visitor in Northern Ohio, more rare and irregular in 

 Middle and Southern Ohio. 



This large northern Owl, commonly called the White Owl, is described 

 by Mr. Kirkpatrick as often quite abundant on the southern shore of Lake 

 Erie, both in mild and severe winters. In this vicinity, and further south, 

 they have never appeared in considerable numbers, and are quite irregu- 

 lar. It is quite likely that the more uniform and equally mild climate 

 of the Lake basin affords them a comfortable winter residence, and 

 that the birds going further south are in search of information and ad- 

 venture rather than driven by climate or want of food. 



In the Eastern States it seems to be rather more abundant and regular 

 than in the interior, often visiting the larger New England cities in 

 greai numbers. 



This Owl frequently flies by day. It feeds upon rabbits and partridges, 

 and is said to be an expert fisher. 



