230 BIRDS OF FIELD, FOREST AND PARK 



of several pairs. The eggs, two to four in num- 

 ber, vary much in color. Sometimes they are 

 plain, dull white, again they are almost wholly 

 dark brown. Usually they are creamy buff, 

 spotted with dark brown. This Hawk ranges 

 in summer from Florida to Labrador, and win- 

 ters from the Carolinas to South America. 



Part II 

 OWLS 



**If a prisoner he be in the broad daylight, 

 He is lord in the dark greenwood! " 



— Proctor. 



While Hawks are daylight hunters. Owls, for 

 the most part, are prowlers of the dark. When 

 the shades of night fall and most of the inhab- 

 itants of bird land are settling down for the 

 night, Owls waken from their day dreams, and, 

 as the darkness deepens, begin to look about 

 for their daily rations. Owing to the peculiar 

 structure of the eye. Owls see much better by 

 night than by day; in fact, they seem nearly 

 blind in the full light of the sun, while in the 

 dark they can make their way even in the forest 

 and locate their prey seemingly with the great- 

 est ease. In the gloom which pervades thick 

 evergreen woods even at midday they can see 

 to fly about, but are much more active at night. 

 Another peculiarity of structure renders it im- 

 possible for them to roll their eyes in the sockets, 



