HAWK OWL. 185 



cessful marksman to a fresh trial of his skill. The note of this bird was 

 compared by,Wolley to the cry of a Hawk. 



The breeding-season of the Hawk Owl appears to commence in the 

 middle of April, and to last to the end of June. As this bird possesses the 



bit, in common with many of its congeners, of laying eggs at intervals, 

 and sitting on them as soon as laid, eggs may be found as late as the 

 third week in June. It makes no nest ; and the eggs are usually laid in 

 the hole of a decayed pine tree, and rest on the powdered wood alone, as 

 is the case with the eggs of the Woodpecker*. Collett mentions a nest of 

 this Owl in Norway, on the top of a broken pine-trunk, some six feet 

 below which a Golden-eye Duck was sitting on her nest. Wolley mentions 

 a similar instance in Lapland, as does also Dall in Alaska. This Owl will 

 also frequently take possession of the nest-boxes placed by the peasants 

 for the Ducks, and rear its young in them. The eggs of the Hawk Owl 

 are from five to eight in number, white in colour, smooth, and possess 

 considerable gloss. They measure from T65 to T55 inch in length, and 

 from 1'25 to 1'17 inch in breadth. The eggs of the Hawk Owl cannot be 

 distinguished from those of the Short-eared Owl, thus rendering an addi- 

 tional figure unnecessary. Both birds sit upon the eggs, and are some- 

 times found on them in company. While the female is upon her charge 

 the male bird will perch close at hand, ready to do battle with any intruder, 

 not even excepting man himself. Numerous instances are recorded of 

 this bird's dauntless courage when its nest is assailed. It strikes at the 

 intruder again and again, seeming not to care for its own safety, and too 

 often pays the price of its temerity with its life. 



The Hawk Owl commences its moult before the young can fly, and 

 completes it by the time they are in full feather. Wheelwright asserts 

 that the breast and belly of the female in the breeding-season are strongly 

 tinged with reddish brown, doubtless from the decaying wood. 



During autumn the Hawk Owl still keeps in company with its young, 

 hunting in little parties for food ; then they become gipsy migrants, and 

 a few wander far south of their native forests. The habits of the American 

 variety of the Hawk Owl are not known to differ from those of the Palse- 

 arctic species ; and its eggs are undistinguishable. 



The general colour of the upper parts of the Hawk -Owl is blackish 

 brown, mottled with dull white ; tail barred narrowly and tipped broadly 

 with white. Underparts white, barred with dark reddish brown; tarsi 

 and toes covered with greyish-white feathers. Bill yellowish white ; irides 

 straw-yellow ; claws bluish black at tips, paler at base. The female bird 

 is a little lajjger than the male. 



* Macfarlane's account, quoted by Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway, of the nest of this bird 

 being built of small sticks and twigs in pine trees in Arctic America, is contrary to the 

 experience of ever) 7 other ornithologist who has taken its eggs. 



