372 A JOURNEY TO THE 



ground, generally lay from three to four eggs, but seldom 

 hatch more than two ; and in the extreme North the young ones 

 do not fly till September. They never migrate, but brave the 

 coldest Winters, even on the barren ground, far remote from 

 any woods ; and in those situations perch on high rocks and 

 stones, and watch for their prey. 

 Grey or Xhe species of Grey or Mottled Owl ^ are by no means 



Mottled Owl. ^ , - , . . r ' ■ ■ j 



SO numerous as the former, are somethmg mrerior m size, and 

 always frequent the woods. They never go in search of their 

 prey in the day time, but perch on the tops of lofty pines, 

 and are easily approached and shot. Their food is generally 

 known to be mice and small birds, yet their flesh is delicately 

 white, and nearly as good as a barn-door fowl ; of course it 

 is much esteemed both by the English and Indians. This 

 species of Owl is called by the Southern Indians Ho-ho, and 

 the former Wap-a-kee-thow. 



[403] Besides those two species of Owls, there is another 

 that remains in Hudson's Bay all the year, and is called by 

 Cob-a-dee- the Indians Cob-a-dee-cooch.^ It is so far inferior in size to 

 the two former, that it seldom weighs half a pound ; is of a 

 mottled brown, the feathers long, and of a most delicate soft 

 and silky quality. In general this species feed on mice, and 

 birds they find dead ; and are so impudent at times, that they 

 light on a partridge when killed by the hunter, but not being 

 able to carry it off^, are often obliged to relinquish the prize. 

 Like the White Owl, at times, though but seldom, they follow 

 the report of a gun, and by so frequently skimming round the 

 sportsmen, frighten the game nearly as much as the hawk. 

 They seldom go far from the woods, build in trees, and lay 

 from two to four eggs. They are never fat, and their flesh is 

 eaten only by the Indians. 



[^ The great horned owl, Bttdo virginianus subarcticus Hoy, found through- 

 out the region north nearly to the limit of trees.] 



[^ This is the hawk owl, :^umia ulula caparoch (Miiller). It is fairly abun- 

 dant throughout the region north to the limit of trees.] 



cooch. 



