SNOWY OWL. 185 



yards, devoured its prey, and returned to the same hole; or, if it had 

 not perceived any more hsh, flew only a few yards over the many pots 

 there, marked a likely one, and alighted at a distance from it. It then 

 squatted, moved slowly towards the edge, and lay as before, watching 

 for an opportunity. Whenever a fish of any size was hooked, as I 

 may say, the owl struck the other foot also into it, and flew off with it 

 to a considerable distance." (Ornith. Biography, vol. n, p. 136.) 



The three specimens examined by Dr. B. H. Warren contained re- 

 spectively the remains of a rabbit, of a rat, and offal. 



The economic value of the Snowy Owl is limited, owing to the fact 

 that it chiefly inhabits inhospitable regions where agriculture is im- 

 possible. Nevertheless, large numbers occasionally visit Canada and 

 the United States, and it can not be doubted that during these visits 

 its service to the agriculturist is beneficial. Mice and lemmings ap- 

 pear to be its chief dependence, and it takes them to the exclusion of 

 all other food whenever it can get them. The number of useful birds 

 it destroys is quite disproportionate to the number of injurious rodents 

 to be credited to its account, and it is to be regretted that the snowy 

 plumage of the bird and its showy appearance render it an object of 

 pursuit for ornamental purposes. 



The following species of mammals and birds were positively identi- 

 fied among the stomach contents : 



MAMMALS. ■ BIRDS. 



Arvicola riparius. Colymbus auritus. 



Mus decumanus. . Colymbus holboellii. 



Sitomy samericanus. Simorhynchus pusillus. 



Lepus sylvaticus. Larus Philadelphia. 



Merganser. 



Tympanueh us americanus. 



The breeding range of this Owl extends from the limit of trees north 

 to a point beyond that reached by any explorer. Maj. Fielden saw it 

 in Grinnell Land at latitude 82° 40', and Lieut, (now Gen.) A.W. Greely 

 states that it bred abundantly in the vicinity of Fort Conger, latitude 

 81° 44/. It is resident through the northern part of Alaska, both on 

 the islands and mainland. McFarlane did not find its nest at Fort 

 Anderson, but it probably breeds in suitable localities in the interior 

 south of that place, for it is reported as breeding in northern Labrador 

 and Newfoundland. In exceptional cases, where it has been found 

 breeding as far south as the latter places, the elevation of the locality 

 compensates for the low latitude. 



The eggs are deposited from the middle of May to the latter part of 

 June, according to whether the locality is in the southern or northern 

 part of the range, though Gen. Greely found eggs by May 25, and 

 young as early as July 8. The number of eggs in a set varies from five 

 to ten, and are deposited at intervals, so that when the last bird breaks 

 the shell the oldest one is often nearly ready to fly. 



