8634 



Birds. 



difficult of access, and, moreover, as observations made at a later 

 period seem to be required (and I am not aware of any such having 

 appeared in a collected form within the last few years), some notes of 

 more recent date may not be considered out of place in these pages, 

 although they contain very little more than a mere repetition of the 

 account above referred to. 



It appears that the snowy owl was first observed in Britain by Dr. 

 Edmondston, who, in 1811 shot an adult male in this island (Unst), 

 and soon afterwards presented it to Mr. Bullock, accompanied by 

 particulars respecting its habits. The specimen was then exhibited 

 in Mr. Bullock's Museum, and described by him as a British bird. 

 Although at that time the species was far from being numerous it has 

 now become even less frequent, as well as rather irregular in its visits, 

 two or three years sometimes elapsing without its appearance, while 

 at other times several individuals occur almost simultaneously. For- 

 merly it used to be met with among these islands, especially in Unst 

 and Yell, at all seasons of the year, but of late it has been observed 

 only between autumn and the end of spring, and then usually after a 

 north-east or north-west wind. On referring to my note-books 1 find 

 the earliest instance of its arrival dated October 17, the latest April 30, 

 (1863). There can be but little doubt that it no longer remains to 

 breed here, although that it was most probably in the habit of doing 

 so formerly the following extract from Dr. Edmondston's paper will 

 show. 



"I have not heard of its nest having been found either there (Shet- 

 land) or in Orkney, though, from meeting with it at all seasons, and 

 from its constantly, during summer, frequenting the same situations 

 in perfect plumage and well developed sex, it is reasonable perhaps 

 to conclude that it breeds in Zetland. Indeed, I remember an intel- 

 ligent peasant of Unst, whose veracity and acquaintance with his 

 native birds I had occasion to be satisfied with, assuring me of his 

 having once met, in the month of August, with a pair of this species, 

 having along with them two others, which he termed their young. 

 One of these latter he shot, but unfortunately I was not aware of the 

 circumstance till the specimen was destroyed. He described it as of 

 the same size as the snowy owl ; indeed, in every respect the same, 

 but of much darker plumage; and this is all precisely what we should 

 expect on the supposition of this species breeding in Zetland." Some 

 years afterwards Dr. Edmondston received information that a nest 

 containing three well-fledged young birds had been found in August, 



