188 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THK UNITED STATES. 



straggling south iii winter to the northern United States, and rarely to 

 the British Isles. Some winters it is quite common in Nova Scotia and 

 in the vicinity of Quebec and Montreal, in Manitoba and northern 

 Maine; south of these points it is merely accidental. 



The food of this Owl varies considerably at different times of the year. 

 In summer it feeds on the smaller mammals, such as mice, lemmings, 

 and ground squirrels as well as insects of various kinds, while in winter, 

 when the snow is deep and its favorite food is hidden, it follows the 

 large flocks of ptarmigans and subsists on them. Dr. Dall seldom found 

 anything bnt mice in the crops of those he dissected in Alaska, and the 

 following from Dr. Cones mentions the same food: "It feeds chiefly 

 upon the field mice (Arvieolw) which swarm in the sphagnous vegeta- 

 tion of arctic lands; also upon small birds, grasshoppers, and other 

 insects." (Birds of the Northwest, 1874, p. 312). 



Dr. C. Hart Merriam, in speaking of its winter food, says: "In the 

 vicinity of Hudson Bay during the winter season, the White Ptarmi- 

 gan [Lagopus albus) constitutes its chief article of diet; and it is said 

 to follow the hunter, pouncing upon his game before he has time to 

 reach it." (Eevien^ of Birds of Conn., 1877, p. 73.) 



Mr. Henry Seebohm speaks of its food as follows: "The principal 

 food of the Hawk Owl is mice and lemmings; and the bird follows the 

 migratory parties of the last-named little mammal to prey upon them. 

 From its indomitable spirit, however, few birds of the forest are safe 

 from its attack. In addition to the smaller birds which it captures. 

 Wheelwright mentions the fact that he has seen the Hawk Owl strike 

 down the Siberian Jay, and has also disturbed it feeding on an old 

 Willow Grouse. The same naturalist has also taken insects from its 

 stomach." (Hist. British Birds, vol. i, 1883, p. 184.) 



It is said to breed in northern Maine ; but if this be true, it must be 

 a very exceptional or accidental occurrence. The true home of the 

 species is from Newfoundland, Labrador, and northern Manitoba, north- 

 ward through the evergreen forests to their limit in the Arctic Circle, 

 the bird being more abundant toward the far north. 



This Owl begins to deposit eggs, even in the far North, as early as 

 the 1st of April; Mr. McParlane found a nest containing six eggs in 

 the Anderson Eiver region April 28. Some individuals have eggs in 

 latter part of June. The eggs may be placed indifferently in cavities 

 of trees, in old nests among the branches, which are relined with moss 

 and feathers, or more rarely among the inequalities in the face of cliffs. 

 When the eggs are deposited in old woodpecker burrows or natural 

 cavities, no nesting material is used other than the chips and powdered 

 wood at the bottom of the cavity. The number of eggs vary from four 

 to eight and, as is the case with many other Owls, the parent begins to 

 set as soon as the first egg is laid ; thus each egg is in a different stage 

 of incubation. Both birds take part in the duties of rearing the young 

 and while the female is covering the eggs the male is near by to defend 



