56 BIRDS OF PREY. 



him scarcely discernible from the overwhelming snows, where 

 he reigns, like the boreal spirit of the storm. His loud, hol- 

 low, barking growl, ''whowh, ^whowh, ^whowh hah, hah, hah, 

 hdh^ and other more dismal cries, sound like the unearthly 

 ban of Cerberus ; and heard amidst a region of cheerless soli- 

 tude, his lonely and terrific voice augments rather than relieves 

 the horrors of the scene. 



Clothed with a dense coating of feathers, which hide even 

 the nostrils, and leave only the talons exposed, he ventures 

 abroad boldly at all seasons, and, like the Hawks, seeks his 

 prey by daylight as well as dark, skimming aloft and reconnoi- 

 tring his prey, which is commonly the White Grouse or some 

 other birds of the same genus, as well as hares. On these he 

 darts from above, and rapidly seizes them in his resistless 

 talons. At times he watches for fish, and condescends also to 

 prey upon rats, mice, and even carrion. 



These birds appear to have a natural aversion to settled 

 countries ; for which reason, perhaps, and the severity of the 

 climate of Arctic America, they are frequently known to wander 

 in the winter south through the thinly settled interior of the 

 United States. They migrate probably by pairs ; and accord- 

 ing to Wilson, two of these birds were so stupid, or dazzled, 

 as to alight on the roof of the court-house in the large town of 

 Cincinnati. In South Carolina Dr. Garden saw them occa- 

 sionally, and they were, in this mild region, observed to hide 

 themselves during the day in the palmetto-groves of the sea- 

 coast, and only sallied out towards night in quest of their prey. 

 Their habits, therefore, seem to vary considerably, according 

 to circumstances and climate. 



This species is a regular winter visitor to the Northern and 

 Middle States, and during some seasons has been quite abundant. 

 A few pairs have been seen in summer in northern Maine, New 

 Brunswick, and Nova Scotia ; but the usual breeding-ground is 

 from about latitude 50'^ to the Arctic regions. 



While in their more southern resorts they are rarely found far 

 from the forest districts. 



i These latter syllables with the usual quivering sound of the Owl. 



