278 ATHENIDJE. 



the peculiar form, together with the color as described. Distributed, as a constant resident, throughout Northern North 

 America to the Arctic Circle. Rare in New England during winter. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Dimensions of specimens from Massachusetts and Maine. Average measurements of males. Length, 1V25; stretch, 

 31-00; wing, 7'50; tail, 6-75; bill, -95; tarsus, -95. Longest specimen, 15'75; greatest extentof wing, 32'00; longest wing, 

 8'OD; taH, 7'00; bill, TOO; tarsus, TOO. Shortest specimen, 14-75; smallest extent of wing, 30-00; shortesj wing, 7'00; tail, 

 6-50; bill, '85; tarsus "90. 



Average measurements of female specimens. Length, 17'Ofl; stretch, 32'00; wing. 8'00; tail, 7'00; bill, I'OO; tarsus, 

 1-05. Longest specimen, 17'50; greatest extent of wing, 33-00; longest wing, 8-50; tail, 7'25; bill, I'lO; tarsus, 1-15. 

 Shortest specimen, 16-75; smallest extent of wing, 31-00; shortest wing, 7 50; tail, 6'50; bill, -90; tarsus, -95. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed either in holes of trees or on the branches, composed of sticks, twigs, etc., lined with grass, leaves, and 

 feathers. 



Egy$, six or seven in number, rather spherical in form, pure white in color, with the surface very smooth. Dimen- 

 sions from 1-SOx 1-50 to l'30x 1'63. 



HABITS. 



The Hawk Owl is common in Canada and northward but is very rare south of this 

 point, consequently, is very seldom seen even in Massachusetts, where I have met with 

 it but twice; once I secured a male in beautiful plumage in the Boston Market, some vears 

 ago, which had been killed in the vicinity, and a short time after this, I saw a fine adult 

 cross the road just in advance of me. This specimen was flying in broad daylight, about 

 noon, but it was one of those dark, lowering days in December which precedes a long win- 

 ter storm. The bird moved as steadily as a Hawk but had the unmistakable motions of 

 the wings so characteristic of the Owls. Although the Hawk Owl has been likened to 

 the Falcons, yet the structure of the scapular arch, especially of the furcula, would prevent 

 its making any sudden aerial evolution; therefore, it cannot capture its prey when upon 

 the wing but must drop upon it in a similar manner to that practiced by all the members 

 of the order. 



The Hawk Owls breed in the vicinity of Calais, Maine, for Mr. George Boardman has 

 secured one or two nests there, but this may be considered as their southern range during 

 summer and, as they are not strictly migratory, only a few irregular stragglers are ever 

 found below this, even in winter. The time of depositing the eggs does not vary from 

 that of the other small Owls, judging from a young female, now before me, which was 

 taken by the Bangs Brothers at PortLe Preaux, New Brunswick, on the tenth of August, 

 for it has almost wholly assumed the first plumage, being as far advanced as a young Long- 

 eared Owl, killed by the same enthusiastic collectors only a day or two ago, about the 

 twelfth of August, in Wayland, Massachusetts. 



FAMILY VI. ATHENIDJ3. THE GROUND OWLS. 



Sternum, with four marginal indentations. Tarsus, very long. Feet, rather small. 

 Eyes, comparatively small. Facial disk, very imperfect. Ear tufts, wanting. Tail, quite 

 short. 



