APPENDIX : NOS. XLVI.—XLVII. Wall 
lessen the duration of their exertion and their fast; and still it 
appears likely that they have a chance of surviving only when their 
misfortune happens at the time of their migrations, when doubtless 
nature has prepared them for extraordinary endurance of hunger 
and fatigue. And after all, what a very few are lucky or unlucky 
enough to reach our inhospitable shores ! 
11 Park Place Terrace [Paddington], 
February 5, 1853. 
XLVII. 
Hasits or tHE Hawk-Owt (Svryra vxura) |. 
[‘ Zoologist,’ xii, (1854) pp. 4203, 4204.] 
“THe Hawk-Owl is not uncommon here. It flies much in the 
day-time, and with its long tail, short wings, and quick 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 bare 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 more regular owls; but whilst 
all the feathers at 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 backwards 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 its 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 countenance, 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. So, bravely 
it dies, without a thought of glory, or without a chance of fame, for 
of its kind there are no cowards. 
“One day I heard a low noise in the woods which surprised me. 
I thought it must be the whine of a dog that was very eager after 
some animal it could not get at; I even guessed it might be a wolf. 
1 [These and the following notes (No. XLVIII.) consist of extracts pieced 
together from letters written to me from Muoniovara, in August and October 1853, 
which Mr. Wolley at my request allowed me to communicate to ‘The Zoologist.’_ It 
is necessary to observe that they were not originally written for publication. The 
meaning ot “ tyllyrs ” has already been explained (supra, pp. 610-612).—Ep. | 
