184 BRITISH BIRDS. 



Of the six examples enumerated as having occurred in the British 

 Islands, I have only seen one, which belonged undoubtedly to the American 

 variety. Two others were identified by Sharpe and Dresser as the same 

 species. Of the remaining three, two cannot now be traced ; but one of them, 

 at least, was brought by a sailor to be stuffed, and was probably caught on 

 board ship. A description of the third in Saxby's 'Birds of Shetland'' is 

 sufficiently minute to leave little doubt that it is the Palsearctic variety. 



The American variety of the Hawk Owl breeds in the pine-forests of 

 Alaska, Hudson's Bay Territory, and Newfoundland, a few straying in 

 winter as far south as the Northern United States. 



The European variety breeds throughout the pine-forests of Scandinavia 

 and North Russia, occasionally reaching as high as the birch-region on 

 the confines of the tundra. In winter it sometimes visits Denmark, is 

 more common in Northern Germany, and has been known to stray as far 

 as Northern France, Austria, and Poland. Eastwards it winters in Central 

 and Southern Russia. In Siberia the range of the Arctic form of the 

 Hawk Owl extends from the Urals to the Pacific ; but its migrations appear 

 to be confined within the country, as it is a resident in Northern Turkestan 

 and the Amoor, and has not been recorded from further south. 



This bold little bird, in many of its habits and deeds of daring, appears 

 to hold the same place amongst the Owls as the Sparrow-Hawk does 

 amongst the Hawks. Its true home is in the Arctic pine-forests, where it 

 is a resident bird throughout the year, only a few individuals wandering 

 southwards at the approach of winter. The Hawk^Owl is far from being 

 a shy bird, and, like the Falcons and the Hawks, hunts for its prey in the 

 open daylight, gliding along with all the impetuous rush of a Hawk, yet 

 with the soft noiseless flight peculiar to its kindred. It is occasionally 

 mobbed by the smaller birds, and even by the Magpies and Siberian Jays, 

 but appears to take but little heed of their attacks, although it will some- 

 times dash into the midst of its tormentors and bear one off in an instant. 



The principal food of the Hawk Owl is mice and lemmings ; and the 

 bird follows the migratory parties of the last-named little mammal to prey 

 upon them. From its indomitable spirit, however, few birds of the forest 

 are safe from its attacks. In addition to the smaller birds which it 

 captures, Wheelwright mentions the fact that he has seen the Hawk Owl 

 strike down the Siberian Jay, and has also disturbed it feeding on an old 

 Willow- Grouse. The same naturalist has also taken insects from its 

 stomach. It may often be seen sitting perched on the dead summit of a 

 lofty pine, from which it flies off to pursue some tempting quarry. Seen 

 thus, the bird bears a striking resemblance to the Hawks ; and its long 

 tail and short wings, when the bird is in motion, also increase the delusion. 

 It is one of the easiest birds to approach, and, when fired at, will not 

 unfrequently again alight on the same tree, as if challenging the unsuc- 



