Birds. 4203 



instead of falling short of it. With these exceptions, the description exactly applied. 

 It appeared to be a male, of less than the average size : the blubber, a portion of 

 which had been removed, was about If inch in thickness. I was anxious to carry off 

 a tooth, but though they appeared loose, being provided only with a pen-knife and 

 Adams's forceps, could not effect it. — George Guyon; Ventnor, Isle of Wight, Decem- 

 ber 28, 1853. 



Extracts from Letters of John Wolley, Esq., now in Lapland* 



Note on the Habits of the Hawk Owl 9 (Surnia ulula). — So little is 

 known respecting the appearance while living, and the habits, of this 

 rare visitor to Great Britain, that I feel sure the following account of 

 it, written from Lapland by Mr. John Wolley, will be interesting to 

 the readers of the ' Zoologist.' It is necessary to observe, that it la- 

 bours under the disadvantage of not having been originally intended 

 for publication, and also of not having been seen by the writer since 

 I obtained his permission to make the present use of it. 



" The hawk owl is not uncommon here. It flies much in the day- 

 time, and with its long tail, short wings, and quick flight, has a very 

 hawk-like appearance in the air, when its large square head is not 

 seen. Its cry near its nest is also similar to a hawk's ; and it often 

 sits on the bare top of an old dead fir, to watch intruders, where it 

 seems to have no idea that it can be in danger. It carries itself much 

 after the fashion of the more regular owls; but whilst all the feathers at 

 the back give a great breadth to its full face, there is quite a ' table ' 

 at the top of its head. It casts its bright yellow eyes downwards with 

 the true air of half-puzzled wisdom, or turns its head round for a lei- 

 surely gaze in another direction ; to glance backwards is out of the 

 question, and to look at any one with a single eye much beneath its 

 dignity. I have seen it from my window fly down from its stand and 

 take the mouse it caught back to the tree before it began to eat it ; 

 but it shifted its place several times before it found a convenient spot 

 for finishing the meal. I do not know whether it is in the habit of 

 hunting on the wing, but this year mice are so abundant that such 

 exertion would be superfluous. When disabled from flight, it at once 

 ' squares ' itself for defence, putting on its most formidable counte- 

 nance, guarding its back, and presenting its front to the enemy ; 

 silently and calmly it maintains its ground, or springs from a short 



* Communicated by Alfred Newton, Esq. 



