1860. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



571 



the life they lead — doubtless to them one of plea- 

 sure and variety. Owing to their vision being 

 defective by day, they appear quite stupid and in- 

 active in the clear light of the sun, a few species 

 being quite bewildered at such times, and allow- 

 ing themselves to be taken by hand. The Crows, 

 Jays, and most of the smaller birds, seem to take 

 great pleasure in teazing them when thus situated, 

 but are aware of their danger as soon as darkness 

 approaches. 



Commencing with the more diurnal species, we 

 meet with the genus Surnia, in which the typical 

 characteristics of the owl are less developed than 

 in those more nocturnal, and considerably resem- 

 bling some of the Falconidce in form, aspect and 

 habits. 



The Hawk Owl or Day Owl, (Surnia fune- 

 rca, Dum.,) also known as the Canadian Owl 

 and Long tailed Siberian Owl, is a constant resi- 

 dent of the northern parts of both continents, 

 migrating southward in winter, when they are oc- 

 casionally met with in New England, and are 

 sometimes seen as far south as Pennsylvania. 

 The vicinity of the Arctic Circle, however, seems 

 to be their favorite abode and place of breeding, 

 where they construct a nest in trees, laying two 

 white eggs. This Owl is quite diurnal, hunting 

 by day as well as by night, and seems to have 

 about as much the aspect of a Hawk as of an 

 Owl, it evidently forming the connecting link be- 

 tween the diurnal and nocturnal rapacious birds. 

 It is a fearless bird, preying much upon Par- 

 tridges, and will boldly snatch up game killed by 

 hunters, and it is said to often hover about thetn 

 for that purpose. The White Ptarmigan is said 

 to be its favorite food in winter. 



The length of this species is fifteen to eighteen 

 inches ; color above, brown spotted with white ; 

 beneath, elegantly barred with dark brown and 

 white. 



The Snowy Owl, or White Owl, {Surnia 

 Ntjdea, Dum.,) like the preceding, is an inhabi- 

 tant of the remote Arctic regions of both conti- 

 nents, but in winter descends to milder latitudes, 

 being met with here at that season, and is some- 

 times seen as far south as Florida. Wherever it 

 appears it is sure to attract attention, from its 

 lai-ge size and white plumage. It hunts with ease 

 during the day, as well as by twilight ; its usual 

 prey consisting of rabbits, grouse, ducks, mice, 

 and, it is said, even carrion ; and it is described as 

 being fond of frequenting the shores and banks of 

 shallow rivers, over which it slowly glides, or 

 perches on a projecting rock, in search of fish, 

 which it clutches with a sure aim, whenever they 

 come within its reach. 



The desolate countries of Lapland, Norway, 

 Siberia, Iceland and the country around Hudson's 

 Bay are its most favorite haunts, where it is com- 

 mon throughout the year ; and the forlorn moun- 

 tains of Greenland, where the silence of death 

 and desolation reigns almost supreme during a 

 large part of the year, echo to the horrid notes of 

 this wild and hardy monarch, which are so doleful 

 that they are said to increase the gloominess 

 of the desolate scene. This formidable hunter 

 measures two feet or more in length, and five feet 

 across the extended wings. Plumage, snow white, 

 thick and downy, marked with lunated spots of 

 brown. 



The ACADL4.N Owl, (JJlida Acadica, And.,) is 



one of the smallest of the Owls, but little exceed- 

 ing a Robin in size ; but, to use the words of 

 Wilson, "like many other little folks, makes up, in 

 neatness of general form and appearance, for de- 

 ficiency of size, and is, perhaps, the most shapely 

 of all our owls. Nor are the colors and markings 

 inferior in simplicity and effect to most others. It 

 also possesses an eye fully equal in spirit and 

 brilliancy to the best of them." It is common to 

 both continents, being frequently seen in IMiddle 

 and Northern Europe ; it is seen on the Ameri- 

 can continent as far north as Nova Scotia and 

 Hudson's Bay, but most abounds in the IMiddle 

 and Northern States, where it is constantly found. 

 It exhibits a preference for the vicinity of the sea- 

 shore, and dark pine forests ; the melancholy and 

 gloomy umbrage of those solitary evergreens 

 forming its fovorite haunts, where it sits dozing 

 and slumbering all day, lulled by the roar of the 

 neighboring ocean. It is extremely active by 

 night, and has the reputation of being a noted and 

 dextrous mouse-catcher. A very pleasing account 

 of this little Owl may be found in the Atlantic 

 Mnnthbj for August, 1859. This species is but 

 seven inches in length, and eighteen in alar ex- 

 tent ; above, plain olive brown, spotted with 

 white ; beneath, streaked with pale ochre and red- 

 dish bay. This bird is often known as the Saw- 

 Wket Owl, from its peculiar note, and sometimes 

 as the Sparrow Owl, from its feeding upon these 

 birds. 



Richardson's Owl, ( Ulula Bichardsoni, ,) 



is a northern species, seldom seen as far south as 

 Massachusetts, or even New England, even in se- 

 vere winters, but abounds in the northern parts 

 of the continent. An individual of this species, 

 was killed one severe morning in last December, 

 by the writer, and the specimen is now preserved. 

 To escape from a pack of noisy Blue Jays that 

 discovered it as soon as daylight appeared, it 

 sought refuge in the vicinity of the house, but 

 met a more fatal enemy. It has generally been 

 described as identical with its European congener, 

 Ulula Tengmahni, or Tcngmalni's Owl, which it 

 very strongly resembles, but has finally been de- 

 clared distinct, and appropriately dedicated to its 

 enterprising discoverer, who has the following ob- 

 servations concerning it : "When it accidentally 

 wanders abroad in the day, it is so much dazzled 

 by the light of the sun as to become stupid, and 

 it may easily be caught by the hand. Its cry in 

 night is a single melancholy note, repeated at in- 

 tervals of a minute or two, and it is one of the su- 

 perstitious practices of the natives to whistle when 

 they hear it. If the bird is silent when thus chal- 

 lenged, the speedy death of the inquirer is thus 

 augured ; hence its Cree appellation of Death 

 Bird" On the banks of the Saskatchewan it is 

 so common, that its voice is heard nearly every 

 night by the traveller, wherever he selects his bi- 

 vouac. The length of the specimen before me is 

 eleven inches ; extent twenty- four and a half; up- 

 per parts grayish tawny brown, with numerous 

 white spots on the head and neck ; lower parts, 

 mostly yellowish white. J. A. a. 



How the Bean Cliaibs the Pole. — Profes- 

 sor Brewer, of Washington College, Pa., commu- 

 nicates to the American Journal of Science and 

 Arts the result of some experiments made by him 



