‘ Transactions of the Wernerian Society of Edinburgh.’ I have recently been favoured by Dr. Edmonstone 
with the following notice respecting this beautiful bird : — ‘ The first time I saw it was in 1808, when an 
individual had been shot by a lad, and hung up as a scarecrow. My next opportunity of seeing one was in 
the spring of 1812, when I succeeded in shooting the Individual, the skin of which I presented, about a 
month or two afterwards, to my friend Mr. Bullock. He had seen the bird in Orkney in 1812 ; but this 
was the first specimen he bad obtained, and it was the first recorded instance of its being killed in Britain. 
It continued to be exhibited in his collection till its dispersion.’ ” 
Mr. Stevenson, of Nonvich, informs me that “ this beautiful species has occurred in Norfolk in several 
well-authenticated instances, although an interval of nearly thirty years elapsed between the appearance of 
the earlier specimens and those more recently obtained. Two examples are recorded in Hunt’s ‘ Norfolk 
Birds’ to have been taken in this county — one in April 1814, and another in January 1820. Of these, the 
former was killed at Felbrigg, the latter at Gunton, both in the vicinity of the coast near Cromer. From 
that time I can find no record of its appearance until 1844, when a fine specimen was shot at Beeston, also 
near Cromer. In the early part of 1847 a large White Owl w'as seen more than once in the neighbourhood 
of Brooke ; and in 1849-50 no less than three were met with in different parts of the county in the short 
space of six months. Of these, the first was seen, but not shot, at Swannington, during the autumn of 1849 ; 
the second, a young male, Avas also shot at Beeston ; and the third, a young male, though more advanced in 
plumage, was killed at St. Faith’s, in February of the same year. I knoAv of none since.” 
Similar instances might be given of the accidental occurrence of this bird in nearly every county of 
England and of its still more frequent occurrence in Ireland ; but these visits do not appear to be regidated 
by any fixed laws : to detail, therefore, where every specimen has been killed, would be useless ; but I may 
mention that the ‘ Morning Advertiser’ of November 10, 1859, contained the following paragraph respecting 
this bird : — 
“ Snowy Owl (^Surnia nycteci). — A very perfect specimen of this beautiful Owl was lately shot on the open 
moor at Knockie, in Invernesshire ; it was stalked and shot Avith a rifle at eighty yards’ distance. The extent 
of the outspread wings is 4 feet 9 inches ; length 22 inches ; Aveight 3 lbs. 5 oz. ; plumage pure Avhite, barred 
and spotted with dark broAvn.” 
Speaking of the Snowy OavI, as observed by him in Lapland, Mr. Wheelwright says ; — 
“ Considering the number of eggs — eight or nine — that the Snowy Owl lays, and the Avild inaccessible 
nature of the country in which its nest is usually built, I cannot help Avondering that this bird is not more 
common on these fells ; but if we take into consideration the immense fell-tract stretching from the Dovre- 
fell, in Norway, right up to the North Cape, and think of the thousands of acres whereon human foot 
never treads, but over which these birds have almost an undisputed range, our wonder ceases. The old 
birds appear rarely to leave the high fells ; and if we Avant them, Ave must seek them in their Avild mountain 
home. They appear, hoAvever, to make periodical migrations after the Lemming, and therefore, in some 
seasons, are common in districts where they have perhaps not appeared for years. Still I fancy the SnoAvy 
Owl is more local than erratic. 
“ An opinion is held here that the SnoAvy Owl becomes Avhiter in the Avinter (AAdiich I think very 
probable), and that the female is always purer in colour than the male. It is clearly a diurnal bird ; for 
any day Avhen we Avent out on the fells Ave could see the M’^hite Owl perched on a distant rock Avatching us, 
or beating OA-er the fells with a stately measured flight — ahvays, hoAvever, out of gunshot. Its shriek, Avhen 
on the wing, resembles a loud ‘ krau-au,’ repeated three or four times ; but it is seldom heard except Avhen 
the bird is excited. Some of the movements of this bird are very extraordinary, and I once saAv one 
fall from a considerable height on to the ground, Avhere it lay for a time perfectly motionless, Avith 
outstretched wings, as if it were shot. I tried to creep up AAuthin gunshot ; but it rose out of distance, and 
sailed away, uttering a AAuld loud cry, “ Rick, rick, rick,” as if mocking me. 
“ The egg of the SnoAvy Oaa4 measures just the same in length as that of the Eagle OavI (24 inches) ; its 
breadth is If inch, that of the Eagle OavI being 2 inches full. The nest Avas nothing more than a large 
ball of reindeer moss, placed on the ledge of a bare fell. The old birds appeai*ed to guard it most jealously ; 
in fact the Laps often kill them Avith a stick AAdien they are robbing the nest.”' — Field, Jan. 31, 1863. 
The SnoAvy Owl bears confinement remarkably Avell, as evidenced by the state of contentment in Avhich 
seA^eral examples have lived, in the Gardens of the Zoological Society, for many years. 
Much variation occurs in the plumage of this species, some indiA’iduals, of both sexes, being entirely 
Avhite, while others are more or less numerously marked and barred Avith broAvn. 
The front figure in the Plate represents a female, in the barred (and probably adult) state of plumage, about 
tAvo-thirds of the natural size. 
