232 THE BOOK OF BIRDS 



killed field-mice, which must have been caught during the 

 preceding night." ^ 



The same writer observes, " I have seen two or three of 

 these pretty birds flying about in the park, in the early 

 evening, over the bracken, and playing with each other in 

 the air. Their movements were full of grace and activity, 

 as they sailed over the fern, and gambolled with each other 

 in the most playful manner." 



Down from the Arctic wastes, when the grip of the 

 frost tightens on all things, comes the SNOWY OWL, 

 sailing southward in search of the shy wild creatures that 

 are his food. 



His white dress and the thickness of it, the way Nature 

 has muffled him in plumage that is absolutely cold-defying, 

 all mark him out as a creature of the Ice-King's realm, 

 and accordingly the first breath of spring wafted over 

 Europe's northern moors and forests scares the white 

 truant back to his native wilderness. 



From time to time he visits our island (indeed the 

 outlying isles of Orkney and Shetland see him pretty well 

 every year), but more often than not he would seem to be 

 here against his will — blown over by the strong prevalent 

 winds from the north-east. When he does come, his size 

 and apj)earance make him a noticeable object. One man 

 who had seen a Snowy Owl on a high piece of moorland in 

 Scotland described him to Mr. St. John as looking " like a 

 milestone." 



He haunts the sandhills so common on the east coast 

 of Scotland, hovering over the slopes and striking down 



1 In view of such useful work, it is deplorable to learn what numbers of 

 these valualjle friends of the farmer are killed every year. Giving evidence 

 before a Select Committee of the House of Lords in June 1908, Dr. Bowdler 

 Sharpe complained that they were being " destroyed by thousands." 



