370 THROUGH THE MACKENZIE BASEST 



376. Snowy Owl — Nyctea nyctea (Linn.). 



A winter example was obtained at Fort Resolution for 

 Dr. Bell, and another at Pelican Narrows, Cumberland, 

 which was forwarded to Washington. Despite our best 

 efforts, we failed to secure even one nest of the snowy owl 

 during our five years' residence at Fort Anderson. On one 

 occasion, however, we noticed a bird of the species hunt and 

 eventually kill a marmot (Spermophilus empetra) in the 

 Barren Grounds which happened to be at some distance 

 from its burrow. There can be no doubt that all of the 

 resident owl family, and other birds, as well as foxes, fre- 

 quently rob the contents of ptarmigan, duck and plover 

 nests there and elsewhere. Mr. Ross says " rare " in Mac- 

 kenzie River. General Greely, when at Fort Conger, Grin- 

 nell Land, relates that " a nest taken by us resembled that de- 

 scribed by Major Feilden, which was a mere hollow scooped 

 out of the earth and situated on the summit of an eminence 

 which rose from the centre of the valley. In this case a few 

 feathers ajid a little grass were present. The referred-to 

 Feilden nest was found in latitude 82° 40', probably the 

 most northerly point at which this species has been found 

 nesting." Incubation begins with the first eggs laid, which 

 are deposited at irregular intervals. Young birds are often 

 found in the same nest with nearly fresh eggs. Mr. Turner 

 says the old birds, especially the female, are very fierce in 

 defense of their young. From three to ten eggs are laid 

 by this species, usually from five to seven. But one brood 

 is raised in a season. The eggs are white in colour, with 

 a fairly perceptible creamy tint in some instances, and are 

 oblong oval in shape. ISTone of these eggs are as round as 

 those of the genus Buho, and their shell is roughly granu- 

 lated and without lustre. A few corrugated lines, starting 

 a trifle beyond the centre of the egg and running to the 

 larger axis, are noticeable in the majority of specimens 

 examined by him. 



