THE SNOWY OWL. 
103 
mens of this bird, which had been caught on board, were brought 
hither alive. A fourth individual, similarly obtained, died about 
the time the vessel entered Belfast bay. 
These birds were secured either at twilight or by night, when 
perched on the rigging, the sailors observing that they were 
asleep before attempting their capture. They were kept on 
flesh-meat, which, for the first ten days, was forced down their 
throats, but after this time they fed of themselves; in about 
fifteen days after their capture, the vessel came into port. These 
three birds, of which two are males and the other a female, are 
very fine examples of the snowy owl ; I have not seen a more 
splendid specimen than the last-mentioned, which died and is now 
in my possession. I should consider all of them birds of the year, 
and from the one that died having been described to me as similar 
to mine, it probably was so likewise.* 
Having heard that these were part of a large “flight” of snowy 
owls which for several days were seen about the vessel, I (never 
having read of this species being met with on its migration) made 
the fullest inquiry into the subject. The captain obligingly replied 
to all my queries, and besides furnished me with the log-book of 
the ship. 
It may in the first place be desirable to give an extract from the 
“log” for a week previous to the owls' occurrence, that we may learn 
if the state of the wind, & c., will account for the great number 
of these birds observed in the course of their migration. The 
vessel, which was bound from Quebec to Belfast, was driven by 
contrary winds along the coast of Labrador. 
Notices of the owls were kept separate, but are here added to 
the log, which otherwise is much condensed. 
1838. 
Nov. 8. Wind W.N.W. at noon; strong gales and tremendous sea running. N.W. 
at midnight, and more moderate. 
* See remarks on Mr. Langtry’s birds. His snowy owls, which are kept in a spa- 
cious garden containing many fruit trees, never perch upon them, but remain con- 
stantly on the ground, although in rainy weather a portion of their snow-white 
plumage is much soiled in consequence, greatly to the disadvantage of their 
appearance. 
