216 NATURAL HISTORY. 



Sub-order II. . ACCIPITRES NOCTURNI. 



Family I. ... Strigidse. (Lat. Strix, a Screech-owl. Screech-owl 



kind.) 

 Sub-family a . Surnince. 



Ultila (Lat. Jiowliiifl), the Hawk-owl. 



feathers, which also prevent the movements of the wing from 

 being heard by the wary mouse ; and so noiseless is their 

 flight that they seem borne along by the wind like a tuft of 

 thistle-down. 



The HAWK, or CANADA OWL, inhabits the arctic portions of 

 Asia and America. Its head is not so round, nor is its face so 

 broad, as those of the other owls, from which it is also distin- 

 guished by its habit of hunting by day. In face it bears some 

 resemblance to the harriers. It builds in trees, and lays two 

 eggs white, as are those of all owls. The eggs of owls are 

 easily distinguished from other white eggs by a peculiar rough- 

 ness of surface, which cannot be mistaken. The length of the 

 Hawk Owl is from fifteen to eighteen inches. 



