THE SNowy OWL. 77 
Family—S TRIGIDA2. 
Snowy OwL. 
Vyctea scandiaca, LANN. 
HIS fine diurnal circumpolar Owl is an almost regular visitor in the winter 
months to the Outer Hebrides, and is more frequently seen in the north 
of Scotland and on its ‘eastern coast, and in the Orkney and Shetland Isles, 
than it is anywhere in England, to whose southern and western counties it very 
rarely extends its flight. It has been noted more often in the eastern counties 
than in the northern or southern, although three examples have been reported 
from Devonshire. It has occurred in every month of the year, and has been 
frequently obtained in Ireland, in the north of which island a flock appeared in 
November, 1838, that had accompanied a ship from Labrador half way across the 
Atlantic. There is no instance of the Snowy Owl ever having nested within the 
limits of the British Isles. It is distributed over the extreme north of the old 
and new worlds; and is an inhabitant of the ¢vndras, the bare, treeless plains that 
three-fourths of the year are covered with ice and snow, where it is the companion 
of the Gyrfalcon, the Ivory Gull, the Polar Bear, and the Arctic Fox, and of the 
other denizens of the far north. It breeds beyond the limits of forest growth, 
within the Arctic circle, in the most desolate plains, where it perches upon blocks 
of stone, and is very inconspicuous, its plumage blending with the general colour 
of its surroundings. It is especially fond of hunting by the large rivers that flow 
into the northern seas, and often captures fish. It is a bird of powerful flight, 
pursuing and striking down its prey on wing like a Falcon; wild ducks, grouse, 
sandpipers, hares, and rabbits are captured by it, and it does not disdain the 
smaller mammals that are chiefly affected by all Owls, such as lemmings, rats, 
and mice. A fine adult example of the Snowy Owl that was killed on Exmoor 
at the end of March, 1876, and was examined by the writer in the flesh, was seen 
to strike down several hares, and was secured in a trap baited with a portion of 
one of them; the Swedish name of this Owl is Harfing, the Hare-catcher. It is 
stated to be a very shy bird to approach, but is very bold at its nest, swooping 
down to buffet any dogs that may come near the spot. The nest is composed of 
a few feathers, with some moss and lichen, placed upon a ledge of rock; the eggs 
are from six to eight in number, sometimes in a good lemming year being as 
Vou. III N 
