632 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
Montagu’s Dictionary), who found it not at all 
uncommon in Lapland: he says, “It flies much in 
the day-time, and with its long tail, short wings and 
quiet flight has a very Hawk-like appearance in the 
air, when its large square head is not seen. Its cry 
near its nest is also similar to a Hawk’s; and it 
often sits on the top of an old dead fir, to watch 
intruders, where it seems to have no idea that it can 
be in danger. It carries itself much after the fashion 
of the regular Owls; but whilst all the feathers of 
the back give a great breadth to its full face, there 
is quite a table at the top of its head. It casts its 
bright yellow eyes downwards with the true air of 
half-puzzled wisdom, or turns its head round for a 
leisurely gaze in another direction; to glance back- 
wards is out of the question and to look at any one 
with a single eye much beneath its dignity. I have 
seen it from my window fly down from its stand and 
take the mouse it caught back to the tree before it 
began to eat it; but it shifted its place several times 
before it found a convenient spot for finishing the 
meal. I do not know whether it is in the habit of 
hunting on the wing, but this year mice are so 
abundant that such exertion would be superfluous. 
When disabled from flight it at once squares itself 
for defence, putting on its most formidable coun- 
tenance, guarding its back and presenting its front 
to the enemy; silently and calmly it maintains its 
ground or springs from a short distance on its foe— 
