G4 
STRIGIDiE. 
RAPTORES. 
STRIGIDJE. 
SNOWY OWL. 
SURNIA NYCTEA. 
PLATE XVIII. FIG. III. 
The Snowy Owl which, it is supposed, used to breed 
ou some of the Shetland Islands, is now a very 
rare visitor to any part of Britain. It is said to breed 
on various parts of the European Continent, and has 
been met with in most of those countries washed by the 
icy seas. The egg, from which I have made my drawing, 
is in the collection of Mr. Wilmot and was brought from 
Labrador. 
Mr. Macgillivray quotes a letter from Dr. Edmondston 
relative to this species, in which he says, 66 I have always 
doubted whether it bred here. Presumptions were in 
favour of the affirmative, but actual proof was wanting. 
I have been lately informed that its nest was found two 
years ago, in August, in a low rocky ledge not far from 
here. The young, three in number, fully fledged, were 
of a brown colour sprinkled with gray.” This letter was 
written from Dr. Edmonston’s residence at Balta Sound, 
in Unst, the most northerly of the Shetland Islands. 
Other eggs in the collection of Mr. Walter which were 
laid in confinement are considerably larger. I am glad 
to find that all the owls’ eggs which I have drawn corre¬ 
spond in size with those figured by Thienemann. 
