925 



STRIGID^E. 



STRIGID^E. 



926 





It is found in the Arctic Circle and Arctic regions pf both con- 

 tinents ; sometimes seen as a bird of passage in Germany, more rarely 

 in France, but never in the southern provinces. 



The visual organs of this species are more able to bear the light of 

 day, at least in dull weather, and, like the Snowy Owl, it hunts 

 frequently in the day-time. The smaller head and less perfect facial 

 disc, combined with these habits, have obtained for it the name of 

 Hawk-Owl. 



Url Owl (Siiniia Vraltntii). 



Sumia funerea, the Canada OwL It is the Strix Ulula, Linn. ; & 

 funerea, Gm. ; S. Hudionia, Gm. ; S. Canadensii et Freti Hudsonit, 

 Bliss.; S. //ttdonia,Wils.; S. nisoria, Meyer; Chouette de Canada et 

 Chouette Epervicre, ou Caparacoch, and Chouette a Longue Queue de 

 Siberie, Buffon (' Eul.' 463, a very good figure of this species, under 

 the erroneous name of the Ural Mountains Owl); Chouette Eperviere, 

 Sonn. ; Sperbereule, Meyer; Naum.; Habichtaeule, Bechst.; Platfr- 

 kdpfigeand Hochkopfige Habichtseule, Brehm. ; Hawk-Owl of Pennant 

 and Wilson ; Little Hawk-Owl of Edwards ; Paypaw Theecawsew, or 

 Cobadecootch of the Crce Indians; Theechazza of the Copper Indians 

 and Chepewyans ; and Ood no Hseoot of the Esquimaux. 



The forehead is dotted with white and brown ; a black band 

 takes its origin behind the eyes, includes the orifice of the ears as in s 

 frame, and terminates on the sides of the neck ; upper parts marked 

 with brown and white spots of various forms; on the borders of the 

 wings are similar white spots disposed on a brown ground ; throat 

 whitish ; the other lower parts white, transversely striped with ashy- 

 brown ; at the insertion of the wings a great spot of blackish-brown 

 tail-feathers ashy-brown, striped at considerable distances with trans 

 versal narrow zigzags ; bill yellow, varied with black spots according 

 to age ; irig bright yellow ; feet feathered to the claws. Length o 

 tail 6 inches and some lines. Total length upwards of 14 inches 

 (Temminck); Richardson says 18 inches. 



Profile of Hawk-Owl (Surnia funerea}. 



The colours of the female are less pure than those of the male, an< 

 he a rather larger. 



Hawk-Owl (Surnia/tmerea). 



Surnia nyctea, Snowy or Ermine Owl. It is the Strix nyclea, 

 Forster, Latham, and Gmelin ; S. Candida, Latham ; S. nivea, Daudin ; 

 Chouette Harfang, Buffon ; Chouette Blanche, Le Vaillant ; Alucco 

 Diurno, 'Stor. degl. Ucc. ;' Scbneekauz, Bechst. ; Sneuwuil, Sepp. ; 

 S'ordicher Schneekautz and Schnee Eule, Brehm ; Great White Owl, 

 Edwards; Snow-Owl, Wilson; Wapow-Keetho or Wapohoo of the 

 Cree Indians ; and Ookpeeguak of the Esquimaux. 



Head small in proportion ; bill black, entirely hidden by the hairy 

 feathers at its base ; plumage snow-white, but more or less variegated 

 with transverse brown spots or stripes; the younger the bird is, the 

 larger and more numerous are these spots and stripes ; very old 

 individuals are pure white, without any brown spot ; iris fine orange- 

 yellow ; feet very well covered, so as to look almost woolly to the 

 claws ; tail rounded, not much exceeding In length the extremity of 

 the wings. Length 24 or 25 inches. Female considerably larger than 

 the inaie. 



Young at the time of departure from the nest covered with browu 

 down ; the first feathers bright down. 



It is found in the Arctic regions of the Old and New World, Iceland, 

 Sweden, Norway, Lapland, and the north of Europe generally. 



Specimens in different stages of plumage are generally to be seen in 

 the garden of the Zoological Society in the Regent's Park. 



The following are also European species : Bubo maxima**, B> 

 Acalapkus, Otwsvulgariti*, 0. brachyotos*, Scops Aldrovandi*, Surnia 

 cinerea, Ulula nebulosa, Symium Aluco*, Noctua nudipei* (Gould 

 Strix nudipei, Auct.), Noctua Tengmulmi *, and N. Pasaerina* (Gould 

 Strix paeserina, Auct.). 



(Those marked * are in the 'Catalogue of British Birds." Mr. Yarrell 

 gives Strix paeterma and Noctua nudipes, Gould, as synonyms.) 



Strix badia, Horsf., Wowo-wiwi, or Kalong-wiwi of the Javanese, is 

 an Asiatic species. Dr. Horsfield states that this species, whose head 

 is proportionally large, has a general resemblance to S. flammea in the 

 distribution of its colours and external marks. The upper parts are t 

 he observes, generally dark, and the lower of a paler hue. The neck 

 is surrounded by a'loose ornamental collar ; the plumes encircling the 

 eyes are rigid, and disposed with perfect regularity, and the legs are 

 entirely covered. A resemblance also exists, he adds, in the lustre of 

 their covering. It is a native of Java, in the closest forests of the 

 district of Pugar, and the ranges of low hills south of the capital of 

 Surakarta. (Horsfield.) 



The habits of this species are nocturnal. Dr. Horsfield speaking of 

 5. Javanica (which, he says, his specimens show to be merely a variety 

 of S. flammea), remarks, that it is the only species of this division 



