316 OWLS 



Nest, on the ground. Eggs, white, 3-10, 2'24 x 1*76. Date, Pt. Barrow, 

 Alaska, June 7. 



"The Snowy Owl is diurnal in its habits, but like most birds is 

 more active in search of prey during the early morning and again 

 toward dusk. Like many of the Hawks, it occupies a commanding 

 perch for hours, watching what is going on about it, occasionally vary- 

 ing the monotony by dropping on a mouse or launching out over the 

 broad country, soon to return to its perch. During its southern wan- 

 derings it is very partial to localities in the vicinity of water, especially 

 the barren sand wastes along the seashore or extensive marshy flats 

 bordering the bays and rivers. . . . 



"The flight is firm, smooth, and noiseless, and may be long pro- 

 tracted. It is capable of rapid flight, and, according to Audubon, is 

 able to capture Ducks, Pigeons, and even Grouse on the wing, striking 

 them down after the manner of the Duck Hawk. 



"Of 38 stomachs examined, 2 contained game birds; 9, other birds; 

 18, mice; 2, other mammals; and 12 were empty" (Fisher). 



1906. DEANE, R., Auk, XXIII, 283-298 (flight of). 



377a. Surnia ulula caparoch (Mull.). HAWK OWL. Ads. Size 

 medium; no ear-tufts; upperparts dark grayish brown or fuscous; head and 

 hindneck spotted with white; back, and especially tertials, barred with 

 white; tail with broken whitish bars, long and rounded, the outer feathers 

 more than an inch shorter than the middle ones; middle of the throat with 

 a fuscous spot, and below it a white one; sides of the neck and upper breast 

 streaked with fuscous, rest of the uriderparts barred with fuscous and 

 white; legs and feet fully feathered. L., IS'OO; W., 8'75;T., 7'25. 



Range. N. N. Am. Breeds from nw. Alaska, nw. Mackenzie, and 

 Hudson Strait to s. B. C., cen. Alberta (casually Mont.), and Ungava; 

 winters s. to the s. Canadian Provinces, casually to Wash., Nebr., Ind., 

 Ohio, N. Y., R. I., Mass., and Maine, occasional in England. 



Cambridge, very rare in late fall. N. Ohio, rare W. V. SE. Minn., 

 uncommon W. V., Oct.-Mch. 



Nest, in coniferous trees or in the holes of dead trees or stubs. Eggs, 

 white, 3-7, 1'50 x T23. Date, Red Deer, Alberta, Apl. 16. 



"The Hawk Owl is strictly diurnal, as much so as any of the Hawks, 

 and like some of them often selects a tall stub or dead-topped tree in 

 a comparatively open place for a perch, where it sits in the bright 

 sunlight watching for its prey. 



"Although the flight is swift and hawklike, it has nevertheless the 

 soft, noiseless character common to the other Owls; when starting 

 from any high place, such as the top of a tree, it usually pitches 

 down nearly to the ground, and flies off rapidly above the tops of 

 the bushes or high grass, abruptly arising again as it seeks another 

 perch. 



"The note is a shrill cry, which is uttered generally while the bird 

 is on the wing" (Fisher). 



378a. Spec ty to cunicularia floridana Ridgw. FLORIDA BUR- 

 ROWING OWL. Ad*. Size small; no ear-tufts; Zry/s and feet nwirlu naked; 

 upperparts grayish brown, spotted and barred with white; throat white, rest 



