1925 



The hawk owl {Surnia ulula) is the most hawk-like member of the order, both 

 in appearance and habits. The typical form is distributed over Northern Europe and 

 Asia, ranging through Siberia to Kamchatka and Amurland, a few stragglers rang- 

 ing into Central Europe in the winter. It is represented in North America, to the 

 northward of latitude 40, by a darker variety (fttnerea); and, according to Dr. 

 Coues, it is to this variety that some of the specimens taken in Britain belong. In 



THE HAWK OWL. 

 (One-third natural size.) 



length this owl reaches fifteen or sixteen inches. The general color of the upper 

 parts is brown mottled with white, the white being most abundant on the head 

 and neck, and least so on the umber wings. The facial disc is dirty gray, bounded 

 on the sides by a crescentic purplish brown patch, extending down from the ears. 

 The chin is dusky; the throat and upper part of the breast are dull white, while the 

 remainder of the under parts is dull with numerous dusky bars, the under surface 

 of the tail being barred with grayish brown and dull white. In addition to the 



