r7' 



318 



HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA, 



HAWK OWL. 



rapid, and graceful. It sails with apparent ease in 

 large circles, and rises and descends without the least 

 difficulty, by merely inclining its wings or its tail as 

 it passes through the air. Now and then it glides 

 silently close over the earth with incomparable ve- 

 locity, and drops as if shot dead on the prey beneath. 

 At other times it suddenly alights on the top of a 

 fence, stake, or dead stump, and utters a shriek so 

 horrid, that the Avoods around echo to its dismal 

 sound. During the utterance of the deep gurgling 



