3032 Birds. 



have but lightly touched, I may be excused for having done so, as 

 they present such very strongly-marked characters, which, however, 

 may not be constant, or only to be noticed in immature individuals, 

 This is in all probability a young bird; I say "in all probability ," be- 

 cause the rare birds, which have at different times been obtained in 

 England, have, with scarcely an exception, been examples of the first 

 or second year. 



May we not from this remarkable, but well-known fact, reasonably 

 conclude that the occurrence of these accidental visitors is to be at- 

 tributed to their instincts not being sufficiently developed to enable 

 them to retrace their way, when carried to a distance from their natu- 

 ral habitat by a strong current of wind. 



In their general appearance, the hawk owls so closely resemble the 

 species of Circus, that in the best arranged catalogues, the genus 

 Surnia is placed first amongst the owls. 



" This genus was established by Dumeril to embrace those species of 

 Strigidse which show a close approximation to the Falconidae, not 

 only in the habit of hawking by day, but also in form, having smaller 

 heads, less complete facial disks, and longer tails than the other 

 owls."* The feathered tarsi and toes, however, point out its relation 

 to the Strigidae. 



The peculiarities of its appearance and habits have been so graphi- 

 cally described by Wilson, that I have availed myself of his account. 



" This is an inhabitant of both continents, a kind of equivocal 

 species, or rather connecting link between the hawk and owl tribes, 

 resembling the latter in the feet, and in the radiating feathers round 

 the eye and bill ; but approaching nearer to the former in the small- 

 ness of its head, narrowness of its face, and in its length of tail. In 

 short, it seems just such a figure as one would expect to see generated 

 between a hawk and an owl of the same size, were it possible for 

 them to produce, and yet is as distinct, independent and original a 

 species as any other. It has also another strong trait of the hawk 

 tribe in flying and preying by day, contrary to the general habit of 

 owls. It is characterized as a bold and active species, following the 

 fowler and carrying off his game as soon as it is shot. It is said to 

 prey on partridges and other birds ; and it is very common at Hud- 

 son's Bay, where it is called by the Indians * coparacoch.' " 



E. T. HlGGINS. 



* Selby's ' Illustrations of British Ornithology.' 



