448 



PREYING BIRDS — RAPTORES. 



Sumia ulula, Linnaeus. 

 THE HAWK OWL ; THE DAY OWL. 



Sifnx ulula, LiNy.EUS, Syst. Nat. I. I7GG, IS.'i. — Sumia ulula. Bonaparte, Cassin, Baird, 



Birds N. Amer. 1858, 64. — Lord, Pr. R. Ai-t. lust. Woolwich, IV. 111. 

 Sirix Iluikonia, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I. 1788, 295. 

 Strix doliata, Pallas, Zoog. Ross. As. I. 1811, 316. 

 " Strixfunerea, Linn^us, Fauna Suecica, 1761, 22." — Audubon, Birds N. Amcr. pi. 378. 



Sp. Char. Wings rather lont; ; first three quills incised on their inner webs ; tail long, 

 with its central feathers about two inches longer than the outer ; tarsi and toes densely 

 feathered. Upper jiarts fuliginous-brown, with numerous partially concealed circular 

 spots of white on the neck behind scapulars and wing coverts. Face grayish-white ; 

 tlu'oat wliite, with longitudinal stripes of dark brown ; a large brown spot on each side of 



the breast ; other under parts with transverse lines or stripes of pale ashy-brnwn ; quills 

 and tail brown, with transverse bands of wliite ; bill pale yellowish ; irides yellow. Color 

 of upper parts darker on the head, and the white markings more or less numerous in dif- 

 ferent specimens. Total length, female, IG. 00 to 17.00; wing, 9.00; tail, 7.00. Male 

 rather smaller. 



Hah. Northern regions of both continents. 



This species, a day liunter like tlie snowy owl, has not yet licen found 

 within the limits of California, l)ut will donljtless be met with sooner or 

 later, as it is so abundant in the resions to the north of it. It nests in 

 trees, and lays from three to six eggs. It is resident in Alaska and the 

 Mackenzie Eiver region, and is one of the best known species of its order. 



