40 
STRIGIDiE. 
this species, for it is comparatively seldom met with in any 
other part of Shetland. Indeed, it will remain for several 
successive weeks without showing any desire to cross the 
sounds and visit the neighbouring country. The drier soil of 
Unst, the peculiarly suitable character of the hills, and the 
abundance of food of various kinds which it contains, probably 
form a sufficient combination of favourable circumstances to 
render further change unnecessary. 
The first specimen recorded as having occurred in Britain 
is an adult male, shot in Unst in the year 1811 by Dr 
Laurence Edmondston, who soon afterwards presented it to Mr 
Bullock, accompanied by particulars respecting its habits. A 
full account of the bird, by Dr Edmondston, also appeared in 
the “Wernerian Memoirs” in the year 1822, since which 
time nothing further has been published in a collected form, 
although, in various Natural History periodicals, short contri- 
butions concerning it have been numerous. That it no longer 
breeds here is certain; and from the account given by the 
inhabitants, it is almost equally certain that the nest was 
occasionally found in Unst many years ago. Although at one 
period of his observations Dr Edmondston found reason to 
doubt the fact, he now reasserts his former belief In 1822 he 
wrote as follows : — “ I have not heard of its nest having been 
found either there [Shetland] or in Orkney, though, from meet- 
ing with it at all seasons, and from its constantly, during sum- 
mer, 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 intelligent 
peasant of Unst, whose veracity and acquaintance with his 
native birds I had occasion to be satisfied with, assuring me of 
his having once, in the month of August, met with a pair of 
this species, having along with them two others, which he 
termed their young. One of these latter he shot, but unfor- 
tunately I was not aware of the circumstance until the speci- 
men was destroyed. He described it as of the same size as the 
Snowy Owl ; indeed, in every respect the same, but of much 
