146 
2.-EARLESS OWLS. 
STRIX NYCTEA. 
SNOWY OWL. 
Body whitish, with a few brown lunate 
spots. 
Strix Nyctea— Lin. Gme. 
Le Harfang— Buffon. 
Great White Owl— Edwards. 
Snowy Owl—Pen. Lath. Mont. Shaw. 
This species measures about two feet in 
length, and sometimes weighs above three 
pounds. 
This elegant bird, though before known 
to North-American travellers and by draw- 
ings made from it, appears to have been first 
distinctly described by Edwards. It appears 
to differ considerably in the markings of its 
plumage. A beautiful variety of this bird 
existed in the Leverian Museum, and is thus 
described by Shaw. " It was every where, 
except on the face and legs, most elegantly 
spotted with numerous lunated brown marks* 
