THE CANADA OWL 



95 



full light of day, becomes quite bewildered with the unwonted glare, and sits blinking 

 uncomfortably, in a pitiable manner, seemingly as distressed as a human being on whose 

 undefended eyes the meridian sun is shining. The nictitating membrane, or inner 

 eyelid, with which the Owl, in common with many other birds and animals, is furnished, 

 stands it in good steai under such circumstances, and by repeatedly drawing its thin 

 membranous substance over the aching eyeball, the Owl obtains some relief from the 

 pain which it is suffering. 



The eyes of Owls are very curiously formed, as are their ears and plumage, and theii 

 structure will be briefly described in the course of the next few pages. 



THE transition from the falcons to the Owls is evidently through the harriers, as may 

 be seen by comparing the engraving of any 

 harrier with that of the CANADA OWL, or HAWK 

 OWL, as it is often termed. In the harriers we 

 find the commencement of the peculiar facial 

 disk, and in the Hawk Owl this disk, or "concha," 

 is not nearly so large or so well defined as 

 in the other members of the same group. 

 The eyes, too, are rather differently formed, 

 as the bird is able to follow its prey by day as 

 well as in the dark, and therefore requires a 

 character of eye which will not be injured or 

 half blinded by ordinary daylight. The plumage 

 is closer than that of the generality of owls, 

 whose feathers are fringed with delicate downy 

 filaments, for the purpose of enabling them to 

 float noiselessly through the air, for the Hawk 

 Owl is a swift-winged bird, and obtains its prey 

 by fair chase. 



The food of the Canada Owl consists chiefly 

 of rats, mice, and insects, during the summer 

 months ; but in the winter, while rats and mice 

 keep within their homes, and the insects are as 

 yet in their pupa state, the Canada Owl turns its 

 attention to birds, and will even chase and kill 

 so powerful a prey as the ptarmigan. It is a 

 very bold bird, and has been known to pounce 

 upon and carry away wounded game that has 

 fallen before the sportsman's gun. While chasing 

 the ptarmigan it follows the course of their 

 migration, hanging about the flocks and making 

 sad havoc in their numbers. 



The Hawk Owl is an inhabitant of the more 

 polar regions, being most commonly seen in the 

 extreme north of Asia and America, though it 

 sometimes pays a visit to Northern Europe. 

 Richardson tells us that it seldom travels farther 

 north than Pennsylvania, but very few specimens having been noticed in that locality, and 

 those only when the winter has been more than usually severe. 



Although so bold and so successful a hunter, the Hawk Owl is by no means a large 

 bird, being only from fifteen to seventeen inches in length, and therefore not equalling the 

 common hen harrier in dimensions. Its nest is generally made on the summit of a tree, 

 contrary to the usual habit of Owls, which usually take possession of a hollow in some 

 dead branch and lay their eggs on the soft decaying wood, or make their home in a 

 convenient crevice of some old building. The male Hawk Owl is rather less than the 

 female, as is the case with most predaceous birds. 



CANADA OWL. Surnia ulula. 



