546 THE BIRDS OF MANITOBA THOMPSON. 



131. Suniia ulula caparoch. American Hawk Owl. 



Au irregular winter visitant. Winnipeg: Winter visitant; arrives in 

 September, departs in Apri-I; very abundantin winter of 1884-85 (LI in e). 

 Eed River Valley : I am positive that it is a permanent resident and 

 breeds in the wooded country east of the lied River (Hunter). Winter 

 resident; very common at Riding Mountains fall and winter, 1884 ; not 

 noted ar Portage la Prairie (Nash). Oarberry : Very abundant in the 

 fall of 1884 (Thompson). Cumberland House, May, 1827 (Richardson). 

 Trout Lake Station and Severn House (Murray). 



On October 18, 1884, while shooting in the half open country to the 

 south, I saw a Hawk Owl. Its flight was much like that of a Pigeon 

 Falcon, and it perched after each change of position on the very top of 

 a tree. I winged it at the first shot, and having heard that this species 

 use their beak and claws energetically when wounded, I approached 

 with due caution. It hissed once or twice and endeavored to escape by 

 hopping. After some little handling it attempted to bite, but did not 

 otherwise defend itself. October 28 : The Hawk Owl seems to thrive 

 very well iu confinement, and during the past ten days I have had no 

 occasion to accuse it of any approach to viciousness. It has often been 

 handled and if hurt thereby simply expresses its annoyance by a chuc- 

 kling note, much like that of a Whiskey John. When placed on the 

 ground it progresses rapidly by great hops, but the slightest }>ufl: of 

 wind is enough to upset it. It sometimes utters a rolling "whill-ill- 

 ill-ill-loo," somew hat like the cries of the Long eared Owl. It has never 

 sulked, but from the first has been ready to apply itself to the demoli- 

 tion of the small birds and mice with which it has been supplied. 



On November 7, while at the poplar bush, I saw several Hawk Owls 

 and secured one alive. This one is as different as possible iu temper 

 from the first I had. It snaps with its bill and strikes with its claws at 

 any person or animal that approaches it. It refused all food and con- 

 tinued sulking till it died. 



This fall has been remarkable for a migration of Hawk Owds. During 

 the autumns of 1882 and 1883 I saw not one about here, but this year I 

 have seen above fifty. Its favorite localities appear to be the half-open 

 woods and park lands, and it is usually seen perched on the top of the 

 bushes and trees. In passing from one tree to another, it commonly 

 throws itself headlong dow^n wards nearly to the ground, along which it 

 skims towards the next tree, and on ueariiig its goal rises with a graceful 

 aerial bound to the topmost perch ottered. 



Somewhat irregularly distributed tbrougliout the province. Near Portage la Prairie 

 I never saw it, but iu December, 1884, I met with it ingradually iucreasiug numbers 

 from Gladstone to the Riding Mountains, where it was very common. They are 

 quite diurnal in their habits. Two that I shot had nothing in their stomachs. Its 

 flight, particularly throngh the low bushes and scrub, closely resembles that of the 

 Sharp-shinned Hawk; it skims along noiselessly close to the ground, frequently 

 alighting on the top of a bush, from whence it will dart on a mouse or other prey. 

 It also frequently rises high in the air and hovers over the ground, remaining sta- 



