AMERICAN HAWK OWL 



237 



those we see in (Ontario have merely come from some particuhir 

 locality where at certain seasons their food supply has given out, 

 and they have to seek it elsewhei-e. The hulk of the species pass 

 the winter near the northern line of trees. 



While at home in the north in summer, its food consists almost 

 exclusively of lemmings and mice, hut in winter, when th(^se can not 

 be had, it takes readily to fish, hares, rats, ducks, and even ofFal. 

 I once killed a large female wliieh was so gorged with tallow that she 

 could scarcely fly. 



It has been classed in /) as a friend of the farmer, but so little of 

 its time is spent in the agricultural districts that its influence for 

 good oi- ill is verv small. 



Genus 8URNIA Duaeeril. 

 SURNIA ULULA CAPAROCH (Mull.). 



16; 



American Hawk Owl. (-Mia) 



Dark brown ; above, more or less thickly speckled with white ; below, closely 

 barred with brown and whitish, the throat alone streaked ; quills and tail, with 

 numerous white bars : face, ashy, margined with black. Length, about It) 

 inches ; wing, 9 ; tail, 7, graduated, the lateral featheis 2 inches shorter than 

 the central. 



