252 



HAWK OWL. 



Siiinia iilula caparoch. 



DESCRIPTION. 



"No ear tufts; tail rounded at tips, and indi-stinctly barred 

 with white; top of head and back of neck spotted with white 

 and black, or dark brown; a patcli of uniform blackish or 

 dark brown on each side of hind ne?k; upper parts brown, more 

 or less spotted with white; lower parts regularly barred with 

 brown. I.,ength, 14.75 to 17.50 inches; extent 31 to 33 inches." 



Habitat.— Arctic America, migrating in winter to the north- 

 ern border of the United States. Rare straggler in Pennsyl- 

 vania. 



This curious bird partakes of the general appear- 

 ance, and also the habits, of both a hawk and an owl, 

 and is said to be principally diurnal, in fact writers 

 assert that it is as active in daytime as any of the 

 hawks. This species occurs in Pennsylvania only as a 

 rare and irregular winter visitor. 



ITS FOOD AND HABITS. 



Having never had an opportunity of studying this 

 bird in life I quote the following from Dr. A. K. Fish- 

 er's Bulletin: 



"The food of this owl varies considerably at different times 

 of the year. In summer it feeds on the smaller mammals, such 

 as mice, lemmings and ground squirrels as well as insects of 

 various kinds, while in winter, when the snow is deep and its 

 favorite food is hidden, it follows the large flocks of ptarmigans 

 and subsists on them. Dr. Dall seldom found anything but 

 mice in the crops of those he dissected in Alaska, and the fol- 

 lowing from Dr. Coues mentions the same food: "It feeds chiefly 

 upon lield mice (Arvicolae) which swarm in the sphagnous 

 vegetation of arctic lands; also upon small birds, grasshoppers 

 and other insects." (Birds of the Northwest, 1S74. p. 312.) 



"Mr. Henry Seebohm speaks of its food as follows: 'The prin- 

 cipal food of the Hawk Owl is mice and lemmings, and the 

 bird follows the migratory parties of the last named little 

 manimal to prey upon them. From its indomitable spirit, how- 

 ever, few birds of the forest are safe from its attack. In addi- 

 tion to the smaller birds which it captures. Wheelwright men- 

 lions the fact that he has seen the Hawk Owl strike down the 



