[o6 



Rntisli Birds. 



THE AMERICAN 



HAWK-OWL. 



iSitniid fitut-yea.) 



The range of the Hawk-Owl e.xtends from 

 Northern Europe to Kamtchatka, and it occurs a little 

 to the south of its breeding range during winter. 

 It is a bold and fierce bird, and will attack a man 

 who attempts to rob its nest. Its food consists 

 of mice and lemmings, on which it preys largely, 

 like the Snow\' Owl. The bird makes no nest, 

 but laj'S its white eggs (five to eight) on the wood 

 at the bottom of a hole in a tree, their length being 

 about une-and-a-half inches. 



The American repre- 

 sentative of S, alula has 

 occurred at least four times, 

 twice in Iingland, and twice 

 in Scotland. It differs from its ally S. ulnla in 

 being a darker bird, with the bars on the under 

 parts broader and more of a vinous brown. It is 

 found throughout the Arctic regions of North 

 America, and its habits, nest, and eggs, do not 

 difter iVom those of its European ally. 

 This is a small species, measuring about eight inches in 

 length, with no ear tufts, but having a well-pronounced facial 

 disk, as have so many of the Owls. This facial disk gives them 



that curious rounded visage which is a principal characteristic of the Strigiformcs. 



The colour of the Little Owl is brown, with a good 



manv ovate white spots on the upper surface, while 



the under surface of the bod_v is white, with brown 



streaks on the breast and abdomen, and a bar of 



brown across the fore-neck ; the iris is bright yellow. 



It is a species which is by no means rarB on the con- 

 tinent of Europe, and it has undoubtedly been met 



with as an occasional visitor to this countrv, but in 



future it will be more difficult to chronicle the Little 



Owl as a visitor, as several have been reared in this 



countr}- in captivity and have then been allowed to 



fly, though up to the present time, I am not aware 



that any nests have been discovered in a wild state. 



It is found generally throughout Europe. It breeds 



freely in captivity, and makes an interesting little 



pet. The food of the Little Owl consists largely 



of insects, but it also catches mice and small birds. 



"TiiE American Hawk-Owl. 



THE LITTLE OWL. 

 (Cartii( iluctlia.) 



The Little Owl. 



