THE SNOWY OWL. 
101 
greater number of these noble birds which have wandered to the 
British Islands, have been the young in the plumage of the first 
year. 
It is thought desirable to add the following notice of the habits 
of these owls reared from the nest, as compared chiefly with those 
of Dr. Neill's bird,* procured when full grown. The male and 
one female specimen now in Mr. Langtry's possession, are wild, 
and sometimes fast for one or two days, though food is within 
their reach. They are chiefly fed on the heads of poultry, wild 
fowl, and rabbits ; but mice and rats are preferred, as are also sea- 
gulls : from these birds no feathers have to be plucked, as the owls 
very efficiently render this service for themselves. The heads of 
plaice (Platessa vulgaris) several times offered them were refused, 
and being forced down their throats were instantly ejected. Cast- 
ings of the indigestible portions of their food are regularly thrown 
up. Although the female is very partial to washing, the male has 
never been known to wash. Their usual cry is a long-drawn 
scream, but frequently they keep a low purring noise like a cat, 
and the male bird, when annoyed, utters a sound like coo-coo-coo; 
described by Dr. Neill as "cuckoo." 
The third individual, a female, is very different from the others, 
in being somewhat playful and quite familiar even with strangers. 
It was interesting on one occasion, when standing about a pace dis- 
tant from this bird during bright sunshine, to observe the contraction 
of the pupil of the eye, which was particularly conspicuous from 
contrast with the immense golden irides. When attracted by 
larks which were singing at a great elevation and distance, the 
pupil, from the ordinary size adapted to near objects, instantly 
diminished to its minimum, or half the ordinary diameter; and 
again, when the sight was directed to birds at less distance, varied 
accordingly. The other two owls are not in the least affected by 
bright sunshine ; and from their observing birds passing at a 
great height in the air, or, as expressed to me, "almost in the 
clouds," they are considered to see as far as a golden eagle, their 
companion in captivity. Live rats turned out to this female owl 
* See Naturalist’s Library: Brit. Birds, Part I. p. 307, 
