116 
SNOW OWL. 
were shot either during winter, late in the fall, or early in 
spring; so that it does not appear certain whether any remain 
during summer within the territory of the United States; though 
I think it highly probable that a few do, in some of the more 
northern inland parts, where they are most numerous during 
winter. 
The colour of this bird is well suited for concealment, while 
roaming over the general waste of snows; and its flight strong 
and swift, very similar to that of some of our large Hawks. Its 
hearing must be exquisite, if we judge from the largeness of 
these organs in it; and its voice is so dismal, that, as Pennant 
observes, it adds horror even to the regions of Greenland by its 
hideous cries, resembling those of a man in deep distress. 
The male of this species measures twenty-two inches and a 
half in length, and four feet six inches in breadth; head and neck 
nearly white, with a few small dots of dull brown interspersed ; 
eyes deep sunk under projecting eyebrows, the plumage at their 
internal angles fluted or prest in, to admit direct vision, below 
this it bristles up, covering nearly the whole bill; the irides are 
of the most brilliant golden yellow, and the countenance, from 
the proportionate smallness of the head, projection of the eye- 
brow, and concavity of the plumage at the angle of the eye, 
very different from that of any other of the genus; general co- 
lour of the body white, marked with lunated spots of pale brown 
above, and with semicircular dashes belov'; femoral feathers 
long, and legs covered, even over the claws, with long shaggy 
hair-like down, of a dirty white; the claws, when exposed, ap- 
pear large, much hooked, of a black colour, and extremely sharp 
pointed; back white, tail rounded at the end, white, slightly 
dotted with pale brown near the tips; wings, when closed, reach 
near the extremity of the tail; vent feathers large, strong shafted, 
and extending also to the point of the tail; upper part of the 
breast and belly plain white; body very broad and flat. 
The female, which measures two feet in length, and five feet 
two inches in extent, is covered more thickly with spots of a 
much darker colour than those on the male; the chin, throat, 
