3.30 



OWL. 



Russia, but more frequent in the Uralian Mountains ; is numerous in 

 Kamtschatka ; known in Sweden by the name of Harfang,* and the 

 same at Astrachan, where it is not unfrequent ; is known also in 

 Iceland, and common in Greenland, where it builds in the hollows of 

 rocks, at a distance from habitations ; preys chiefly on Ptarmigans, 

 hares, and smaller quadrupeds, which it drops on by stealth. In 

 Lapland is found useful in destroying great numbers of the Lem- 

 mings.! The Calmucs are said to pay divine honours to this bird, 

 and augur good or ill luck, according as it tends its flight to the right 

 or left. 



It inhabits Hudson's Bay, Avhere it is called Wapacuthu, and 

 said to prey by day, as well as by night, and though it may prefer 

 the Ptarmigan, is often known to be satisfied with mice, and small 

 ]>irds. Met with in Melville Island, by Captain Parry, in his late 

 Arctic Expedition. 



According to Mr. Bartram, this species arrives in Pennsylvania, 

 in autumn, from the north, and remains during the winter, returning 

 northward in the spring, for the sake of breeding and rearing the 

 young; in the winter found sometimes as far south as Carolina. 



It has not hitherto been noted as a British species, but I am 

 assured that it was met with in the Orkney Islands by Mr. Bullock, 

 in his tour to that part of the world, in the summer of 1812 ; one of 

 these birds he saw, and was informed of a female having been shot 

 there, about a fortnight before his arrival. It is now and then met 

 witli in the northern parts of Germany, 



* Supposed to have acquired this name from prej'ing on hares, 



t Miis. Lcmimis Lin. These are frequent breeders, bringing five or six young at a time, 

 and were it not for the foxes, ermines, &c, as well as this Owl, their numbers would over run 

 the country ; they have sometimes appeared in such numbers, as to make it believed that they 

 were generated in the clouds, and fell in showers on the ground, 



