308 
SNOWY OWL 
to the island (of Sanda.) A day or two after- 
wards, a large owl was remarked prowling about 
the rabbit links (or warrens.)' Mr Scarth con- 
cluded, from the size and appearance, that it must 
be the Snowy Owl, a rare visitant, not a regular 
inhabitant, of the Orkneys. He therefore dili- 
gently followed the bird till he got within shot, 
when he fortunately hit one wing, so as to disable 
from flying, but without other injury. The bird 
fluttered along the downs, and, when brought to 
bay, made a stout resistance. It was, however, 
secured ; and the wound having healed, the spe- 
cimen was despatched to me as already men- 
tioned. 
“ It was pretty evidently a young bird, or only 
in its second year, being much spotted and barred 
with brown. I therefore entertained little doubt 
of taming it to a considerable extent. I got a 
very large cage, or rather small house, expressly 
constructed for it, in w'hich the bird could either 
squat on the ground or perch aloft, and with a 
boarded chamber in which it could seclude itself 
from the light. The care of it was confided to 
my very intelligent and respectable gardener, Mr 
William Lawson, (now nurseryman and florist 
near Glasgow,) who paid every attention to it. 
It was at first exceedingly timid and shy, arid 
often fasted for twenty-four hours although meat 
■was placed within its reach. For several weeks. 
