It is enumerated in the lists of birds published in several of the Statistical Surveys of counties, and in other catalogues, but in such a manner as «to be unworthy of record here. It never occurred to Mr. Templeton, nor have any of my ornithological friends or correspondents met with a specimen. The only notice which seems authentic, is that published in the 1st volume of the Annals of Natural History, p. 156, to the following effect : — That in Feb., 1838, Mr. Adams, gamekeeper at Shane's Castle park, assured me of a specimen having been killed there, within the preceding few years. From the circumstance of my informant having served in the capacity of gamekeeper in England, before coming to this country, he became acquainted with the species, which he correctly described to me under the name of "brown owl." The gentleman who, in the Zoologist for June 1848, (p. 2141,) and Saunders' News-letter of the 9th of that month, noticed the tawny owl as having been obtained in the Queen's county, men- tions, in a letter to me, that he was mistaken respecting the species.
Mr. Macgillivray remarks, that "in the northern parts of Scotland this species is seldom, if ever, met with ; but in the wooded portions of the middle and southern divisions, it is more frequently obtained than any other, excepting the long-eared and barn owls," vol. iii. p. 442.
THE SNOWY OWL.
Surnia nyctea, Linn. (sp.)
Strix nyctea,„Linn.„
Is a very rare winter visitant.
It is said to have been met with in 1812 and 1827.* Speci- mens killed in two winters only — 1834–35, and 1837–38 — have come under my own examination. To what I have already pub-
To Mr. J. Poole, I am indebted for the following note : — Mr. B. Vicary, of
Wexford, when residing at Kilmore, on the south coast, in 1812, near an extensive
rabbit-burrow, was told on the first day of the shooting season that year, of a very
large, white, extraordinary looking bird being perched on a fence at a short distance
from the house. It remained on the spot until seen in staring majesty by that gen-
