68 



VERTEBRATA. 



TUE CANADA OWL. 



Hceoot of the Esquimaux, is brown and white-spotted above, of various forms ; white spots on the 

 borders of the wings, on a brown ground ; lower parts white transversely striped with brown; length 

 fifteen to eighteen inches. It is common to both continents, being most abundant at the north, 

 but is often seen as far south as Pennsylvania. AVilson thus describes it : 



" This is an inhabitant of both continents, a kind of equivocal species, or rather a connecting 

 link between the hawk and the owl tribes, resembling the latter in the feet, and in the radiating 

 feathers round the eye and bill ; but approaching nearer to the former in the smallness of its 

 head, narrowness of its face, and in its length of tail. In short, it seems just such a figure as one 

 would expect to see generated between a hawk and an owl of the same size, were it possible for 

 them to produce; and yet is as distinct, independent, and original a species as any other. It has 

 also another strong trait of the hawk tribe— in flying and preying by day, contrary to the general 

 habit of owls. It is characterized as a bold and active species, following the fowler, and carrying 

 off his game as soon as it is shot. It is said to prey on partridges and other birds ; and is very 

 common at Hudson's Bay, where it is called by the Indians Coparacoch. We are also informed 

 that this same species inhabits Denmark and Sweden, is frequent in all Siberia, and on the west 

 side of the Uralian chain as far as Casan and the Volga ; but not in Russia. It w^as also seen by 

 navigators near Sandwich Sound, in latitude 61° north. It is worthy of remark, that, in all owls 

 that fly by night, the exterior edges and sides of the wing-quills are slightly recurved, and end in 

 fine hairs or points ; by which means tlie bird is enabled to pass through the air with the greatest 

 silence— a provision necessary for enabling it the better to surprise its prey. In the hawk-owl 

 now before us, which flies by day, and to whom this contrivance would be of no consequence, it 

 is accordingly omitted, or at least is scarcely observable. So judicious, so wise, and perfectly 

 applicable, are all the dispositions of the Creator." 



