316 OWLS 
Nest, on the ground. Eggs, white, 3-10, 2°24 x 1°76. Date, Pt. Barrow, 
Alaska, June 7. 
“The Snowy Owl is diurnal in its habits, but like most birds is 
more active in search of prey during the early morning and again 
toward dusk. Like many of the Hawks, it occupies a commanding 
perch for hours, watching what is going on about it, occasionally vary- 
ing the monotony by dropping on a mouse or launching out over the 
broad country, soon to return to its perch. During its southern wan- 
derings it is very partial to localities in the vicinity of water, especially 
the barren gand wastes along the seashore or extensive marshy flats 
bordering the bays and rivers. . . 
“The flight is firm, smooth, and noiseless, and may be long pro- 
tracted. It is capable of rapid flight, and, according to Audubon, is 
able to capture Ducks, Pigeons, and even Grouse on the wing, striking 
them down after the manner of the Duck Hawk. 
“Of 38 stomachs examined, 2 contained game birds; 9, other birds; 
18, mice; 2, other mammals; and 12 were empty”’ (Fisher). 
1906. Deans, R., Auk, XXIII, 283-298 (flight of). 
877a. Surnia ulula caparoch (Miill.).§ Hawk Owu. Ads.—Size 
medium; no ear-tufts; upperparts dark grayish brown or fuscous; head and 
hindneck spotted with white; back, and especially tertials, barred with 
white; tail with broken whitish bars, long and rounded, the outer feathers 
more than an inch shorter than the middle ones; middle of the throat with 
a fuscous spot, and below it a white one; sides of the neck and upper breast: 
streaked with fuscous, rest of the underparts barred with fuscous and 
white; legs and feet fully feathered. L., 15°00; W., 8°75;T., 7°25. 
Range.—N. N. Am. Breeds from nw. Alaska, nw. Mackenzie, and 
Hudson Strait to s. B. C., cen. Alberta (casually Mont.), and Ungava; 
winters s. to the s. Canadian Provinces, casually to Wash., Nebr., Ind., 
Ohio, N. Y., R. I., Mass., and Maine, occasional in England. 
Cambridge, very rare in late fall. N. Ohio, rare W. V. SE. Minn., 
uncommon W. V., Oct.—Mch. . 
Nest, in coniferous trees or in the holes of dead trees or stubs. Eggs, 
white, 3-7, 1°50 x 1:23. Date, Red Deer, Alberta, Apl. 16. 
“The Hawk Owl is strictly diurnal, as much so as any of the Hawks, 
and like some of them often selects a tall stub or dead-topped tree in 
a comparatively open place for a perch, where it sits in the bright 
sunlight watching for its prey. 
“Although the flight is swift and hawklike, it has nevertheless the 
soft, noiseless character common to the other Owls; when starting 
from any high place, such as the top of a tree, it usually pitches 
down nearly to the ground, and flies off rapidly above the tops of 
the bushes or high grass, abruptly arising again as it seeks another 
perch. 
“The note is a shrill cry, which is uttered generally while the bird 
is on the wing” (Fisher). 
878a. Speotyto cunicularia floridana Ridgw. Fuorrma Bur- 
ROWING Own. Ads.—Size small; no ear-tufts; legs and feet nearly naked; 
upperparts grayish brown, spotted and barred with white; throat white, rest 
