AMERICAN HAWK OWL 229 



noiseless flight and by the peculiar human appearance of 

 the face, due to the position of the eyes, both of which look 

 forward. The feathers which surround the eye are known 

 as the facial disk ; in one or two species their color serves 

 as a good field-mark. It is important also to determine the 

 presence or absence of " horns," or erect tufts of feathers, 

 which in several species rise from the head. 



American Hawk Owl. Surnia ulula caparoch 



15.00 



Ad. — Top of head and hind neck spotted with white; back 

 dark brown; under parts white, streaked on the throat, barred on 

 the breast and belly with brown; wings and tail brown, barred 

 with white; face whitish, encircled icith black ; tail considerably 

 more than a third as long as the whole bird; bill yellowish-white. 



The American Hawk Owl is usually a very rare winter 

 visitant in northern New England ; occasionally, however, 

 it is fairly common in winter in Maine and northern New 

 Hampshire. It is as diurnal as a hawk, and watches for its 

 prey on a perch in plain sight. It may be known by its tail, 

 which is much longer in proportion than that of any of our 

 other owls. 



Sxowy Owl. Nyctea nyetea 



25.00 



Ad. $. — Entire plumage white, more or less barred on head, 

 back, wings, and tail, and often on the belly and sides, with brown. 

 Ad. 9- — Much darker than $, only the face, front of neck, and 

 middle of breast pure white; rest of plumage heavily barred with 

 brown. 



The Snowy Owl is a very irregular winter visitor from 

 the north, sometimes occurring in large numbers, but often 

 absent for several years ; it is found more often along the 

 sea-shore than inland. It is strictly diurnal, and may be 

 seen perched on some rock or tree, conspicuous enough if 



