HAWK-OWL. 185 



was printed in the ' Zoologist ' for 1854) says that this bird, 

 which in some years is extremely abundant in Lapland, 

 " flies much in the daytime, and, with its long tail, short, 

 sharp wings and quick flight has a very Hawk-like appear- 

 ance in the air, when its large square head is not seen. 

 Its cry near its nest is also similar to a Hawk's ; and it 

 often sits on the bare top of an old dead fir, and has not 

 the least fear of a gun. It carries itself much after the 

 fashion of the more regular Owls ; but whilst all the feathers 

 at the back give a great breadth to its full face, there is 

 quite a table at the top of its head. It casts its bright 

 yellow eyes downwards with the true air of half-puzzled 

 wisdom, or turns its head round for a leisurely gaze in 

 another direction ; to glance backwards is out of the ques- 

 tion, and to look at anyone with a single eye is much be- 

 neath its dignity. From my window I have seen it fly down 

 from its stand and take the mouse it caught back to the 

 tree before it began to eat it ; but it shifted its place several 

 times before it found a convenient spot for finishing the 

 meal. I do not know whether it is in the habit of also hunt- 

 ing on the wing, but this year mice are so abundant that 

 such exertion would be superfluous. When disabled from 

 flight, it at once squares itself for defence, putting on its 

 most formidable countenance, guarding its back and pre- 

 senting its front to the enemy. Calmly and silently it main- 

 tains its ground, or springs from a short distance on its foe. 

 So bravely it dies, without a thought of glory and without a 

 chance of fame, for of its kind there are no cowards." 



Subsequently the same excellent observer had numerous 

 opportunities of becoming acquainted with the Hawk-Owl's 

 mode of breeding, and found that early in the year it oc- 

 cupies a hole in a tree, or one of the nest-boxes set up by 

 the people for the accommodation of Ducks, in which the hen- 

 bird lays from five to eight white eggs, measuring from 1*63 

 to 1-43 by 1-2.6 to 1-13 in. The nest is boldly defended by 

 its owners, and especially by the cock, who during incubation 

 will fiercely attack and with his talons seriously wound any 

 invader, often losing his life thereby. The late Mr. Wheel- 



VOL. I. B B 



