238 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



Hais. — Arctic Ameriua, migrating in wintei- to the iioitheni bonk-r of the 

 United States. Occasional in Enghmd. 



Xest, of sticks, grass, moss and feathers, in trees or on rocks. 

 Eggs, four to seven, soiled white. 



Tn Southern Ontario the Hawk Owl can only be regarded as a 

 rare winter visitor. Farther north it seems more common, as I ha\ e 

 heard of it being frequently seen in the district of Muskoka. While 

 here in winter it has no particular haunt, ])ut takes the country as it 

 comes, like a hawk, and is evidently as sharp in the sight as it is 

 active on the wing. The two in my collection were obtained in the 

 neighborhood of Hamilton . 



The Hawk Owl, like some otlier l)oif;d l)irds of prey, (.iccasioiudlv 

 comes south in the winter in large numi)crs, and is welcomed bv 

 collectors wherever it appears. These extensive migrations oceui- 

 most frequently in tlie east. Tn Quebec, some years ago, in the 

 month of March, T saw them exposed in the market day after day, 

 and when coming west I noticed many perched on trees near the 

 railroad track. 



In ^Ianitol)a it is I'eported as an ii-regular winter visitor, but in 

 Alaska Mr. Nelson .sa3's it is perliaps the most abundant resident 

 bird of prey throughout the entire wooded region i!i the north. On 

 May 5th, liS6f<, Mr. Dall secured six eggs of this bii-d from the top 

 of an old birch stuV) about fifteen feet high, in the viciinty of Nulato, 

 on the lower Yukon. The eggs were laid directly on the wood, and 

 the male was sitting. When he climbed to the nest the sitting bird 

 dashed at him and knocked off his cap, .showing the fierce and bold 

 chai-acter of the species. 



The food of the Hawk Owl varies with the sea.son of the >ear. In 

 summer it feeds on the .smaller mammals, such as lemmings, mice and 

 ground sqinrrels, with a few grasshoppers l)y way of change, but in 

 winter-, when these are not available, ptarmigan constitute its chief 

 article of diet. When in search of these birds, it is said to follow 

 the huntei', often pouncing upon his game and carrving it oil' eie he 

 can reach it. 



It has been placed in Dr. Fisher's beneficial list, but it li\fs t(jo 

 fai' noith to have much influetice on aiii'iculture. 



