54 
STRIGID.E. 
wheatear alighted within a few hiet, and was allowed to take 
its departure without molestation. I have been in pursuit of 
three Snowy Owls at one time, and although unsuccessful in 
my endeavour to procure one, the whole three were brought to 
me in one week — two of them in one day. This was in June 
1868. One of the females contained ova the size of No. 1 shot. 
At whatever season it is taken, the quantity of fat, especially 
upon the abdomen, is very great; I have only seen one 
example in bad condition. 
It is well known that many birds when irritated make a loud 
snapping noise with the bill. In the Snowy Owl this is effected 
in a peculiar manner, the extreme tip of the under mandible 
being placed against the point of the upper one, and, by means 
of strong contraction of the muscles, caused to slip smartly back 
into its place. 
THE HAWK OWL. 
Surnia uhda. 
Having heard the Hawk Owl repeatedly mentioned in Shet- 
land, especially as a regular winter visitor to Unst, it may 
readily be imagined how eagerly I awaited its arrival during 
my first winter’s residence in that island. But waiting was in 
vain, and it was not until the following April that a friend 
informed me in a casual manner that he had seen one among 
the bushes, and that most probably it would remain there for 
some days. I lost no time in seeking for it, saw a Short-eared 
Owl, shot it, brought it home, and, to my unutterable dis- 
appointment, was congratulated upon having added a Hawk 
Owl to my collection. 
In the winter of 1860-61 a specimen of this extremely rare 
bird was procured from Skaw, in Unst, by my friend Mr James 
Hay, to whom I am indebted for the oidy British example I 
have seen. The skin was shown to Mr Crotch, who reported 
the occurrence in the ''Zoologist” for 1861, p. 7706. Hence 
the report of the capture of his specimens in Unst. I greatly 
