Definition of "nyctea" [nyctea]

• A genus of Strigidæ of great, size and extensively white color, with rudimentary plumicorns, very shaggy paws, and the bill nearly buried in feathers; the snow-owls. (noun)

The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)

• "Only the following birds were seen: owls (_Strix nyctea_) rather numerous, of which one was killed; a species of falcon, which was hunted unsuccessfully; snow buntings, breeding very generally in the stone mounds; a covey of snow ptarmigan, of which some young birds were shot; six species of waders, the most common birds of the region, of which a large number were shot; two kinds of gulls"
• "The Snowy Owl (_Strix nyctea_, L.), drawn by M. Westergren"
• "Johnson had wounded an owl (_Strix nyctea_), which however made its escape."