150 ' HAWK OWL— DAY OWL. 



mond) ; but this individual had undoubtedly lost himself, or was 

 making a desperate attempt to reach the opposite Pole — just possi- 

 bly was an exile. Mr. Wheaton mentions this Owl in his catalogue 

 of the Birds of Ohio ; and Ridgway records it as occurring in 

 Illinois. It has not been met with to the west of the Rocky 

 Mountains ; but Dr. Cooper, in the " Ornithology of California," 

 says it " will doubtless be met with sooner or later, as it is so 

 abundant in the regions to the north of it (California)." We 

 hardly understand what regions Dr. Cooper here refers to, as it 

 is abundant nowhere, except in the fur countries and northward. 

 In the McKenzie River district Ross gives it as common to the 

 Arctic coast. 



In Canada the Hawk Owl arrives early in April, and is taken 

 occasionally by our hunters. Often at this season both it and the 

 Short-eared Owl are exposed for sale in our markets, and in some 

 rare instances are brought alive. They soon, however, disappear, 

 having only " dropped in " on their journey northward, and are not 

 again seen until about the months of October and November, as a 

 few of them pass again to the southward. Rarely are they seen in 

 summer ; I have never met with one, but have heard of instances 

 related of stragglers being observed very early in the autumn. 

 It is just possible that a stray pair may remain and nest with 

 us ; but this fact has not yet, to my knowledge, been authenticated. 

 Mr. Passmore and Mr. Couper, naturalists of Montreal, both of 

 whom have collected largely throughout Canada, inform me that 

 they know nothing from personal experience of the nest and eggs 

 of this Owl, and are assured that Dr. Hall in orivino- it in his list 

 of resident and breeding birds for the " District of Montreal," was 

 greatly in error. Mr. Couper also further writes me : " The 

 Hawk Owl is a thoroughly northern bird, but it comes down to 

 the neighborhood of Quebec in September, and some years is 

 abundant. In Labrador they are said to be abundant throughout 

 the year. It no doubt follows the Ptarmigan on its migrations. 

 The nest has not yet been found in Canada." It is a common 

 bird in Newfoundland, according to Reeks, wdio states that it 

 remains through the year, but is less abundant in the depth of 



