STBIGIB^: OTHER OWLS. 



511 



Carolinas and Texas; there being no part of the U. S. where it may not appear at that season. 

 It is far frotn being exclusively nocturnal, and hunts abroad in the day-time as readily as any 

 hawk. It has never been ascertained to breed in the U. S., though it probably does so in 

 Maine, as is certainly the case little further north. It is capable of enduring the rigors of 

 Arctic winters. Tlie nest is usually upon the ground or rocks ; the eggs are 5 t(-) 10, laid at 

 intervals (as is the case with various other owls), so that the nest njay C(intain fresh and incu- 

 bated eggs and young birds at once; they are equal-ended, about 2.50 X 1-90. The bird preys 

 upon grouse, ptarmigan, hares, and smaller game, especially the field-mice and lemmings 

 which swarm in the Arctic regions. 

 166. SUR'NIA, (Etym. of Surnia or Syrnium unknown.) Hawk Owls. SkuU and ear-parts 

 much as in Bubo or Nyctea; latter non-oporculate, the (jpening of small size; facial thse very 

 little developed, and eyes not centric to it; no pluudcorns. Wings folding far short of end of 

 tail ; third primary longest ; first 4 emarginate on inner webs. Tail remarkably long, little 

 shorter than the wing, much graduated, with lanceolate feathers. Feet thicklj- and completel}' 

 feathered to the claws ; tarsus scarcely or not longer than middle toe. Of medium size, witli a 

 peculiarly neat and dressy appearance, for an owl, the whole plumage being more strict than in 

 other members of this family. There is but one species, common to northern portions of both 

 hemispheres, as hawk-like in habits as in mien, though unmistakably an owl. 

 480. S. fune'rea. (Lat. funerea, funereal. Fig. 3i5S.) Amekican Hawk Owl. Day Owl. 

 Bill and eyes yellow ; claws brownish-black. Upper parts bistre-brown, darkest and almost 

 blackish on the head, where profusely 

 spotted with small round white marks, 

 to which succeeds a nuchal interval less 

 spotted or free from spots, then an area 

 of larger and lengthened spots ; scapulars 

 profusely spotted with white in large 

 pattern, forming a scapular bar as in 

 Scops; back and wing-coverts more or 

 less spotted with white also ; primaries 

 and secondaries with white spots in pairs 

 on opposite edges of the feathers. Tail 

 broken-barred with white or pale gray, 

 usually narrowly and distinctly, on one 

 or both webs, and tipped with the same; 

 but there is great individual variation in 

 this respect, as may also be said of the 

 amount and character of the spotting of 

 the whole upper parts. Under parts 

 from the breast backward, including the 

 crissum, closely and regularly cross- 

 barred with rich reddish-brown, or even 

 reddish-black, upon a white ground, the 

 alternating bars of color usually of 



about equal widths — if anything, the " ' " ^S^^I^ 



white the broadest. The lining of the Fig. 358. - Hawk Owl, rertuoert. (Shepparddel. Nichols sc.) 

 wmgs shares the same character, but is more spotty ; the paws are mottled with brown and 

 whitish, m different pattern. On the breast the regular barring gives way, the tendencv being 

 to form a dark pectoral band on a white or spotted ground, but this disposition is seldom pei" 

 tocted. Facial disc mostly whitish, bounded by a conspicuous blackish crescent behind the 



ear. When the dark nuchal coUar is perfected, a second bar 



curves down behind the first 



