54 ' BIRDS OF PREY. 



flutters on the ground. They are also said to feed on mice 

 and insects, and (according to Meyer) they nest upon trees, 

 laying two white eggs. They are said to be constant atten- 

 dants on the Ptarmigans in their spring migrations towards the 

 North, and are observed to hover round the camp-fires of the 

 natives, in quest probably of any offal or rejected game. 



In Massachusetts and the more southern portions of New Eng- 

 land the Hawk Owl is only an occasional winter visitor ; but in 

 northern New England and the Maritime Provinces it occurs regu- 

 larly, though of varying abundance, in some seasons being quite 

 rare. It is fairly common near Montreal, and rare in Ontario and 

 in Ohio. Thompson reports it abundant in Manitoba, but only 

 one example has been taken in Illinois (Jiid^way). It breeds in 

 Newfoundland, the Magdalen Islands, and northern Manitoba, 

 and north to sub-arctic regions. 



