BIRDS OF 



female make several attempts to capture a wounded Duck, 

 which was swimming in a patch of open water among the ice 

 on the bay near the canal. The Owl skimmed along close to 

 the ice and tried in passing to grasp the Duck, which quickly 

 went under water and appeared again cautiously at a different 

 place. The Owl passed several times over the pond in this 

 way, resting alternately on the pier of the canal and on the 

 shore, till getting into a favorable position I shot it on one of 

 the return trips, and subsequentl}' I also shot the Duck on 

 which I had a first claim. 



The number of these birds which occasionally descend from 

 the north in the early part of the winter must be very great, 

 for their migrations extend over a wide extent of country, and 

 at Hamilton, which is only one of the points they pass, I have 

 known of as many as thirty being captured in a single season. 

 During the winter they are seen as far south as Texas and the 

 Carolinas. How interesting it would be to know how many of 

 these individuals which travel so far south are permitted to 

 return. 



Genus SURNIA Dumeril. 



157. SURNIA ULULA CAPAROCH (Mull.). 377a. 



American Hawk O-wl. 



Dark-brown abo%'e 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 i6 inches ; wing, 9 ; tail, 7, graduated, the lateral feathers 2 inches 

 shorter than the central. 



Hab. Arctic America, migrating in winter to the northern border of the 

 United States. Occasional in England. 



Nest of sticks^ grass, moss and feathers ; in trees or on rocks. 



Eggs, 4 to 7 ; soiled white. 



In Southern Ontario the Hawk Owl can only be regarded as 

 a rare winter visitor. Farther north it seems more common, 

 as I have heard of it being frequentl)' seen in the district of 

 Muskoka. While here in winter it has no particular haunt, 

 but takes the countrv as it comes, like a Hawk, and is evident!}' 



160 



