288 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



HAB. Arctic America, migrating in winter to the northern- bonier of t he- 

 United States. Occasional in England. 



Nest, of sticks, grass, moss and feathers, in trees or on rocks. 

 Eggs, four to seven, soiled white. 



In Southern Ontario the Hawk Owl can only be regarded as a 

 rare winter visitor. Farther north it seems more common, as I have 

 heard of it being frequently seen in the district of Muskoka. While 

 here in winter it has no particular haunt, but takes the country as it 

 comes, like a hawk, and is evidently as sharp in the sight as it is 

 active on the wing. The two in my collection were obtained in the 

 neighborhood of Hamilton. 



The Hawk Owl, like some other boreal birds of prey, occasionally 

 comes south in the winter in large numbers, and is welcomed by 

 collectors wherever it appears. These extensive migrations occur- 

 most frequently in the east. In Quebec, some years ago, in the 

 month of March, I saw them exposed in the market day after day, 

 and when coming west I noticed many perched on trees near the 

 railroad track. 



In Manitoba it is reported as an irregular winter visitor, but in 

 Alaska Mr. Nelson says it is perhaps the most abundant resident 

 bird of prey throughout the entire wooded region in the north. On 

 May 5th, 1868, Mr. Dall secured six eggs of this bird from the top 

 of an old birch stub about fifteen feet high, in the vicinity of Nulato r 

 on the lower Yukon. The eggs were laid directly 011 the wood, and 

 the male was sitting. When he climbed to the nest the sitting bird 

 dashed at him and knocked off' his cap, showing the fierce and bold 

 character of the species. 



The food of the Hawk Owl varies with the season of the year. In 

 summer it feeds on the smaller mammals, such as lemmings, mice and 

 ground squirrels, with a few grasshoppers by way of change, but in 

 winter, when these are not available, ptarmigan constitute its chief 

 article of diet. When in search of these birds, it is said to follow 

 the hunter, often pouncing upon his game and carrying it off ere he 

 can reach it. 



It has been placed in Dr. Fisher's beneficial list, but it lives too- 

 far north to have much influence on agriculture. 



