88 
STRICtID^. 
family, the bird begins to sit as soon as the first egg is laid, 
depositing others at irregular intervals. 
I have observed this species hunting both by day and by 
night, and have several times crept close up to it as it stood 
sleeping upon a slight elevation at the foot of a stone or a wall, 
sheltering itself from the wind rather than from the snow ; for 
it entertains a strong dislike to the wind, although often com- 
pelled by necessity to brave the fury of the heaviest gales. 
These must greatly interfere with the procuring of food. 
During a long run of wet and windy weather the poor birds 
are often picked up among the heather, either dead or in a state 
closely approaching starvation. 
I have seen four individuals on wing at one time, no two of 
which were precisely alike in general colouring. The numer- 
ous specimens obtained have varied greatly both in tint and 
markings. Birds coming in autumn are often richly coloured, 
while those which arrive in spring present a pale and bleached 
appearance. In Shetland, where alone I have had the oppor- 
tunity of examining the stomach, the food consists of birds of 
various kinds, insects, and mice, the latter being greatly pre- 
ferred. 
'{Note . — The Barn Owl, Strix flammea, although included in 
most lists, does not occur here, even as a straggler. Shet- 
landers hearing and reading of the “ White or Barn Owl” are 
apt to confound it with their own truly White Owl, Sicrnia 
nyctea, and make misstatements accordingly.) 
THE SNOWY OWL, 
Surnia nyctea. 
CATYOGLE. 
It is somewhat unaccountable that so conspicuous a bird as 
the Snowy Owl should have been almost entirely overlooked 
by British naturalists until about the commencement of the 
])resent century. 
