118 STRIGID.E. 



Hawk Owl is found in considerable numbers : in all these 

 countries it is a bird of passage. 



The Hawk Owl is nearly as widely dispersed as the long- 

 eared species. In Europe it is everywhere known, and also 

 in North and South America, and in Asia. In the north 

 of Europe these birds are common in low, marshy places, 

 and consequently abound in the low parts of the north of 

 Germany and in Holland. In these countries damp fields, 

 meadows, and swamps are much frequented by them. 

 During the day they sit on the ground, among willow bushes, 

 thistles, nettles, or other tall plants, or among reeds and 

 high grass. Jn autumn they have been found in the fur- 

 rows of ploughed lands, or concealed in potato-fields, or 

 among cabbages. They seldom perch in a tree, or even 

 bush. Their call is an agreeable sounding note, resembling 

 kiou, kiou, seldom uttered, but soft and pleasing. The food 

 of this species is chiefly mice and insects, small birds, &c. 



The tufts upon the head are not very conspicuous, and are 

 chiefly erected, according to Montagu, when the bird is in 

 a quiescent state, or asleep ; on being disturbed or roused, 

 it raises the other feathers of the head, so as nearly to con- 

 ceal the aurated tufts. These tufts consist of only three or 

 four feathers, the longest of which measures less than an 

 inch : they are placed much nearer together than those of 

 other horned owls. The entire length of the Hawk Owl is 

 fourteen or fifteen inches, and in expanse from wing to wing 

 it measures forty-four to forty-six inches ; the tail-feathers 

 are six inches long, and the wings, when closed, reach con- 

 siderably beyond their tips. In weight it is about eleven 

 ounces. The beak and cere are black, and the former mea- 

 sures an inch and a quarter in the arc. The tarsus mea- 

 sures two inches. 



The feathers of the upper plumage are chiefly dusky, 



