AMERICAN HAWK OWL. 237 



those we see in Ontario have merely come from some particular 

 locality where at certain seasons their food supply has given out, 

 and they have to seek it elsewhere. The bulk of the species pass 

 the winter near the northern line of trees. 



While at home in the north in summer, its food consists almost 

 exclusively of lemmings and mice, but in winter, when these can not 

 be had, it takes readily to fish, hares, rats, ducks, and even offal. 

 I once killed a large female which was so gorged with tallow that she 

 could scarcely fly. 



It has been classed in b as a friend of the farmer, but so little of 

 its time is spent in the agricultural districts that its influence for 

 good or ill is very small. 



GENUS SURNIA DILMERIL. 

 SURNIA ULULA CAPAROCH (MULL.). 



167. American Hawk Owl. (37 7 a) 



Dark brown ; above, more or less thickly speckled with white ; below, closely 

 barred with brown and whitish, the throat alone streaked ; quills and tail, with 

 numerous white bars ; face, ashy, margined with black. Length, about 16 

 inches ; wing, 9 ; tail, 7, graduated, the lateral feathers 2 inches shorter than 

 the central. 



