COMMON BIRDS. 109 



Those who have only heard the cries of the English 

 owls can have no conception of the loud and startling 

 calls of some of these enormous birds. The great- 

 horned-owl,* which is nearly two feet high, is perhaps 

 the most remarkable in this respect of all its tribe; but 

 though often heard it is seldom to be seen, passing the 

 day, as it does, in the impenetrable coverts of the 

 swamps. Of the snowy-owl, f I had the fortune to 

 inspect closely a splendid specimen, a female, fully two 

 feet in height, which, perched in a lofty hickory, was 

 fired at and brought do^vn by a brother-officer with 

 whom I was out shooting. Softly, and without a rustle, 

 it descended like a parachute to the ground, where it 

 hopped on a log, and sat staring at us with its great 

 round yellow eyes in the utmost astonishment, making 

 no attempt to escape, but hissing loudly when approached. 

 It did not appear to be wounded, and was evidently more 

 surprised than hurt, for it soon after flew off as noise- 

 lessly as it had alighted. The greater part of the 

 plumage was white, beautifully marked with light brown 

 spots or half moons, and it was literally a mass of the 

 softest down. The cry of the snowy-owl is most hoarse 

 and dismal, and has been well compared to that of a full- 

 grown man calling in distress for assistance. 



* Strix Virginiana. f Slrix nyctea. 



